Johannesburg - The ANC, SACP and Cosatu have jointly condemned the recent attack and vandalism at former SACP and ANC leader Chris Hani’s memorial site at the Thomas Nkobi Cemetery in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
In a statement issued by the Tripartite Alliance on Monday, the alliance partners urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the recent incidents of vandalism, which came just as the Hani family and the alliance were dealing with the release on parole of Chris Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus.
Walus was granted medical parole by the Constitutional Court on Monday, November 21 following what Chief Justice Raymond Zondo called a unanimous decision, setting aside a previous decision to deny him parole. Walus was expected to be released sometime in the next few days after having served more than 28 years behind bars.
“Law enforcement agencies must investigate who is behind the provocative attack to bring them to book,” the alliance said.
According to media reports, the vandalism at the site was discovered by Ekurhuleni municipal officials when they reported for duty on Monday, November 28.
The three parties said this attack was akin to the second killing of Chris Hani in his grave.
“This is tantamount to a continuation of Chris Hani’s assassination in his grave. The provocative attack comes in the same week the Constitutional Court ordered the Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, to place Janusz Walus on parole within 10 days.
“This judgment pleased unrepentant apartheid perpetrators, who celebrated, while the family of the victim, Chris Hani, and other victims of apartheid were hurt and deeply disappointed … This is how South Africa has become redivided. It is in this context that the attack on the Chris Hani Memorial Site occurred, posing a threat to societal stability, just as the assassination of Chris Hani did,” the alliance said.
On Monday, the City of Ekurhuleni slammed the vandalism of the site after the destruction of the “Four Pillars of the ANC Struggle” portion of the facility and the information centre and kiosk were discovered to have been destroyed. Officers on duty sounded the alarm after reporting for duty. No one knows who was responsible for this attack.
According to Ekurhuleni metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, the lighting system of the facility had been removed and one of the pillars was badly damaged.
He said there was also a break-in at the information centre situated along the Walk of Remembrance linking the Wall of Remembrance to the Chris Hani Memorial.
The facility was officially opened by former president Jacob Zuma in 2015.
The City said what made the situation even more puzzling was the timing of the incident, considering the recent judgment by the Constitutional Court on the case.
The Star