CELEBRATING CHRIS HANI AND HIS LEGACY

April is regarded as Chris Hani Month in the calendar of the City of Ekurhuleni, where his far-reaching political legacy and what he stood for are celebrated.

Martin Thembisile Hani, known as Chris, was born on 28 June 1942 in Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape. From his youth days, he dedicated his life to the liberation struggle of this country to emancipate his people. He was assassinated outside his house in Dawn Park at the age of 50 on 10April 1993.

In honouring his life and legacy, the City conferred the Freedom of the City posthumously in November 2006 and declared April, the month in which he died, Chris Hani Month. Furthermore, in March 2017, his grave at Thomas Nkobi Cemetery, Chris Hani Memorial and Walk of Remembrance, were declared a National Heritage site.

Known as the unifier in his political circle and community at large Chris always fought against hunger in order for all to have access to basic food; housing whereby he advocated for decent housing or shelter for all; and lastly, he fought for the provision of basic health care for all. In making sure that Chris’s ideas live the City continues to make strides in providing health care – today the City has 93 clinics City-wide providing healthcare service to communities.