Introducing the Chris Hani Institute by Zwelinzima Vavi and Blade Nzimande

Part 1 – By Zwelinzima Vavi

The 7th COSATU Congress, held in September 2000, passed a resolution which proposed the establishment of the Chris Hani Institute as an "academy to provide education and training for selected youth, stewards and officials."

This resolution identified the urgent need in the current period, for cadre development with the following objectives:

• to educate a cadre of working class leadership to understand and analyse the political economy of the changing global and South African realities from the standpoint of the interest of the working class.
• to build organisation
• to build the capacity of trade unionists and shop stewards to engage
• to develop a layer of intellectual representatives of the working class grounded in our theory

The resolution further proposes that "Such a programme must provide a sound theoretical, ideological, practical and intellectual development and grounding for current and future trade unionists."

We are faced with the challenge of developing new layers of political leadership for the working class movement, which is an ongoing need. The concept of a Chris Hani Institute had been discussed, formulated and shaped in discussions with the SACP over a period of time before and after the 7th COSATU Congress.

In this discussion the following emerged:

• One of the key features of apartheid South Africa was that almost all the foundations that were in existence largely served and were controlled by the rich and professional classes, with minimal focus on the interests of the overwhelming majority of tpeople.
• Since 1990, South Africa has seen an emergence of even more foundations and think-tanks primarily focused on the interests of the better off, including racially or ethnically defined interests with the notable exception of the Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko Foundations.
• The space provided by the advent of a democratic South Africa, and evidence that it is only those who are better off who are likely to be best able to represent their interests in the public domain, the media, government, business and in society in general. The strengthening of democracy in South Africa principally rests in the promotion and betterment of the overwhelming majority of its people – who are predominantly black,African, working class and poor. Other than government, major institutions of society – business, media, cultural institutions – still largely serve a white rich and middle class society, to the extent that the interests of the working class and poor are relegated to the bottom. Even in relation to government, unless there is a focused attempt in empowering the working class and the poor to effectively participate, lobby and influence government decisions, given the resources and lobbying potential of those who are better off.
• It is also in the realm of ideas and communication that there is hardly any systematic advocacy of the interests of the working class and the poor.Most experts are either drawn from the ranks of the better off or they tend to advocate for the interests of the better off.
• The establishment of such a Chris Hani Institute would definitely contribute and enhance the voice, ideas and aspirations of the working class and the poor through engaging in the public domain and engaging other major institutions of South African society. For COSATU and the SACP this voice is concretely about engaging strategically in order to advance to socialism.
• Co-operation and working together with existing progressive and specialised institutions and policy units like NALEDI, DITSELA, NIEP, CEPD, etc. Co-operate with other progressive foundations like Nelson Mandela Foundation and Steve Biko Foundations.
• Autonomy of the Institute, freely and critically engage with developments within the broad working class movement and its organisations. Criticisms and self-criticisms is a powerful weapon to strengthen democracy and progressive organisations. We don’ant praise singers!

Part 2 – By Blade Nzimande

The life and memory of Chris Hani has become one of the major symbols for the aspirations of the working class and the poor in South Africa. His life, sacrifices, dedication and example captured a person whose entire life was dedicated to the service of ordinary working people and the poor.

Whilst South Africa has many heroes and heroines who lived and died for similar aspirations, but Chris Hani was murdered on the eve of the beginnings of the realisation of the aspirations of the majority of South Africans. His assassination, also directly led to the securing of 27 April 1994 as the date for the first ever democratic elections in South Africa. His memory lives fondly in the hearts and minds of millions of South African, particularly the working class and the poor. This Foundation would serve to institutionalize his memory, but most importantly, as a monument to the aspirations of the ordinary working people and the poor in South Africa.

One of the many outstanding qualities of comrade Chris Hani was his ability to make socialist ideas accessible to workers and the poor and his dialectical understanding of the primacy of mass democratic struggle. The statement by Cde Hani on socialism (quoted on the Launch programme) illustrates this clearly.

An important aim of the institute would be to continue this legacy, by researching and developing socialist alternatives, making socialist ideas accessible, promoting and popularising socialist alternatives, and by equipping shop stewards, trade union officials, community activists and the children of the working class and the poor with the knowledge and the confidence to take the struggle for socialism to their communities, their workplaces, public spaces, the media, government – essentially all of society.

The working class movement is faced with the enormous task of defending and advancing workers struggles in a harsh climate that is not currently favourable to working class interests. The current phase of capitalist globalisation is marked by huge assaults on workers through massive retrenchments, casualisation and privatisation and through intensified ideological attacks In the light of these changes, uncertainties and challenges there is a dire need to equip working class cadres to engage with and analyse current realities, and to be able to envision alternatives beyond capitalism. We need to create space for revolutionaries to reflect on alternatives, to envision and struggle for the real possibilities for change.

The Chris Hani Institute is being established for all these reasons. Part 3 – By Zwelinzima Vavi Aims and Objectives – as outlined in Programme for the Launch Part 4 – By Blade Nzimande Activities – as outlined in Programme for the Launch Part 5 – Both Reading of Names of Board Members (alternating) – as outlined in the Programme