Vice President Paul Mashatair welcomed Chris Honey as the revolutionary leader and respected freedom fighter whose assassination in April 1993 marked a pivotal moment in South Africa’s transition to democracy.
The keynote speech was given on the 32nd anniversary of the Honi assassination commemoration event held in Sabarere Village, and was held in Sabarere Village, Coffinvaba. Honey’s birthplace is in the Eastern Cape, reflecting Honey’s legacy and his sacrifices for South Africa’s democracy.
Hani, former chief of staff at Umkhonto Wesizwe, was shot outside his home in Dawn Park, Boksburg by radical right-wing immigrant Janusz Waluś, who was released on parole in 2022.
Despite attempts by murderers to incite a civil war, the vice president said Honey’s death united the nation in pursuit of freedom and culminated in the country’s first non-racial election on April 27, 1994.
“Today, the world has come to know Martin Tembizil. Revolutionary, commissar, leader, parent, husband and martial artist Chris Hani has cleared the path to a historic political breakthrough in 1994,” he said.
The Vice President highlighted Hani’s contribution to the armed struggle, his leadership in the Umkont Wesswe liberation movement, and his unwavering commitment to justice and equality.
He praised Honey for his courage, and spoke about his role in the separation of Rutzli, where he led his soldiers across the Zambezi River, where the crocodile was soaked, and was terrified by the apartheid regime.
Mashatile also highlighted Honey’s vision for a better South Africa, rooted in the principles of social justice.
“We must never allow rhetoric that suggests that democracy is the worst form of government and that apartheid is superior to democratic states.
“We don’t have to allow some of us to be the beneficiaries of this enormous sacrifice of many fallen martians like Chris Honey to steal from corruption, poor and poor people, kill the dead, and distrust democracy through the fight to access positions for selfish benefits.”
The country’s deputy commander said Honey believes that social progress should be focused on providing basic needs such as shelters, water, healthcare and education, rather than abstract theory.
“Our reality is that Chris Hani is not where we wanted us to be a nation,” Mashatile admitted, pointing to the poverty, underdevelopment and inequality of his former homeland.
The Vice President used his platform to call for urgent action to address issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), unemployment and corruption.
He urged South Africans to work together to build a more equitable society and economy, while at the same time diversifying their trade partnerships to reduce their dependence on certain markets.
Mashatile announced plans to raise Hani’s annual anniversary to a national event, focusing on development, heritage and values that Hani supported.
This year’s initiatives include the construction of sports facilities at local schools in Sabarele, as well as repatriation and re-summoning of liberation combatants.
“Chris Hani did not die in vain. He must praise his name not only with words, but with work, compassion, bold and urgent actions. This moment reminds us that the struggle is not over.”
The memorial served as a call for action for South Africans to continue their fight against corruption, underdevelopment and inequality, and to build a nation that reflects the vision of heroes like Chris Honey.
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National unified government
The Vice President also uses his platform to touch on the National Unity Government (GNU) in South Africa and faces several challenges.
The GNU is made up of 10 political parties, each with a different perspective on a variety of issues, and said its diversity could lead to disagreements and difficulties in reaching consensus.
“What we need to understand about the GNU is that we may have different views on the issue, but once we reach an agreement, we all have to speak in one voice. This was also true of Chris Hani. He had a strong view of armed struggle.
The Vice President said that effective GNU governance needs to balance individual perspectives with collective decision-making.
