Boksburg, Ekurhuleni – The family of former South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary Chris Hani withdrew from a planned wreath-laying ceremony at his gravesite in Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park on Wednesday, citing unhappiness with the involvement of the Ekurhuleni Municipality.
According to the SACP, the family objected to the municipality taking a prominent role in the programme, which they said contradicted prior agreements on the nature of the proceedings and who should lead them. The family also cited longstanding issues with the municipality regarding the management of Chris Hani’s legacy.
An SACP representative at the site explained that upon arrival, they were surprised to find the municipality had imposed itself on the event despite a “sound and solid agreement” between the parties involved. The representative noted that the family was unhappy for two main reasons: the municipality’s actions despite the agreement, and deeper, ongoing concerns over how the municipality handles Hani’s legacy.
ANC Treasurer-General Dr Gwen Ramokgopa offered a different explanation, stating that the family could not attend due to a bereavement — a death in the family. She described the situation as one requiring humanity and respect, saying it would be disrespectful to proceed with the ceremony while the family was grieving.
“The family is grieving. They have a death in the family and therefore cannot and could not have participated today,” Dr Ramokgopa said. She added that honouring leaders like Chris Hani must include respect for their families, and that the gathering would “go back to the drawing board” to acknowledge the Hani family’s grieving process. The SACP, however, indicated it had no knowledge of any such bereavement.
Despite the family’s absence and the subsequent postponement or cancellation of the formal ceremony, members of the ANC Youth League proceeded to the gravesite to lay a wreath and pay tribute independently.
In strong remarks directed at the SACP, the youth league criticised what they described as “Mickey Mouse political parties led by opportunists” who they accused of using Chris Hani’s name and the Communist Party as a vehicle to access state resources. They asserted that the event and the legacy belonged to the African National Congress (ANC) and the “real SACP” that has been in alliance with the ANC for over a century, rather than opportunists who failed in ANC structures and sought personal gains through the Communist Party. The youth league vowed to fight to “rescue the Communist Party from those criminals” in honour of “Comrade Chris Hani.”
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of strained relations between the ANC and the SACP. The ANC’s National Working Committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday evening to deliberate on the party’s relationship with the SACP, including discussions on whether SACP leaders serving in ANC structures should be required to choose between the two organisations.
Chris Hani, a prominent leader in both the ANC and SACP as well as uMkhonto weSizwe, was assassinated in his Boksburg driveway on 10 April 1993. The annual commemoration of his life has traditionally involved the Hani family, the SACP, and alliance partners.
The events at Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park highlight ongoing tensions within South Africa’s historic liberation alliance, as the parties navigate differences over legacy, collaboration, and political direction ahead of future elections.