Voices of Liberation: Chris Hani

by Houston, Gregory; Ngculu, James

• ISBN13: 9780796924438
• ISBN10: 0796924430
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-07-01
• Publisher: HSRC Press

Summary

Chris Hani was a key figure in the South African liberation struggle, yet little has been written about this enigmatic leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe. The year 2013 marks the 20-year anniversary of his assassination, and HSRC Press views the publication of this book as extremely important, not only to commemorate his death but to highlight the principles and values for which he stood. As chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe, Chris Hani was prepared to support the cessation of the armed struggle in the interests of the negotiations that would benefit the country as a whole. He represents the importance of dialogue and the relationship between identity, agency, citizenship, and social action.

Author Biography

Gregory Houston is a chief research specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and holds a PhD in political science from the University of Natal. James Ngculu joined Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) after the 1976 uprising of Soweto. He occupied a variety of posts within MK and spent most of his time abroad in exile, where he became one of Chris Hani’s closest companions. After 1994, he acted as the provincial secretary of the ANC and as provincial chairperson of the Western Cape Province until 2008.