MY TRIBUTE TO CHRIS HANI – JAY NAIDOO I remember the 10th April 1993 as clearly as it happened today. The day is etched in the minds of all South Africans. The assassination of Chris Hani. I recall the many conversations we had on our hopes for the new democratic South Africa. "Should you not go into Government" I said as we sat his office just below the Cosatu head office. We need leaders like you who will remain faithful to our pledge of a better life to all. "No he replied there are comrades who must remain outside and keep civil society strong and robust."
What I remember of Chris Hani was his passion and dedication to eradicating poverty and social inequality. "We need to create the pathways to give hope to our youth that they can have the opportunity through education and hard work to escape the trap of poverty." So what will he say today as we see the bulk of our youth leave school with very little skills, no jobs and unlikely in their lives to have the dignity of labour? What will say about the predatory economic and political elites who rob our people of resources that could build houses and feed our poor? What will he say about the political arrogance that sweeps our land? That glorifies rhetoric over action to deliver on our promises. What will he say about the attempts to steal the voice of our people through the iron fist of the 'Secrecy Laws’? The Hani I know would be distraught. He will ask where our vision and contract with our people has disappeared. He would unify our people, admit our mistakes and work tirelessly at the coal face of our communities to give people ownership over their lives. So let us not make speeches, let us not find fault with those who pioneered through negotiations the political miracle we today enjoy in world racked by war and conflict. Let us hold the mirror to our faces. All of us. Government, business, labour, civil society, faith based leaders, citizens and ask ourselves 'Why have we failed the next generation and what do we have to do to ensure that we correct the course of our precious democracy?" There is no blueprint. Only honesty, humility and a deep commitment to social justice and solidarity can bring us back to the path that heroes like Chris Hani carved. Let us end the finger pointing, the need for scapegoats and ask ourselves why 18 years later we have poverty and inequality? It has happened on our WATCH. Sent from my iPad -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
