SACP, Cosatu launch Chris Hani Institute

By Madoda Dyonana and Ncedo Kumbaca

UMTATA -- The SACP and Cosatu are to launch a Chris Hani Worker Leadership and Development Institute in Johannesburg today.

This was announced by South African Communist Party secretary-general Blade Nzimande during his keynote address at the 10th Anniversary Commemoration Rally of his predecessor, Chris Hani, at the University of Transkei Stadium on Sunday.

The aim of the institute is to continue Hani's legacy by researching and developing progressive and socialist alternatives, making socialist ideas accessible, promoting and popularising democratic and socialist alternatives, and providing cadre development to worker leadership.

Nzimande portrayed Hani as a major symbol for the aspirations of the poor and the working class in South Africa.

South Africans must not allow Chris Hani to die, he said.

He imagined how Hani would react to the current situation within the alliance movement, saying he hated "careerism" and "ideological opportunism".

"We must guard against these twin dangers at this stage of our struggle," he warned.

He said the "SACP is not a step-cousin of the ANC" and for Hani to be a communist "was not a tactic, but a lifelong commitment".

In his message of support ANC national chairman Mosiuoa Lekota encouraged people to live up to Hani's image by not being greedy for positions.

He criticised local government leaders, especially in the OR Tambo region, for spending taxpayers' money on legal battles against each other.

Cosatu president Willy Madisha said Hani would be hurt and saddened at the way some circles in the democratic movement now try to use power, personal attacks and lies to eliminate disagreement and dissent.

Nzimande also saw Hani as a fighter against poverty and job losses.

"Today, unemployment is approaching nearly 40 percent in our country and 61 percent of Africans live in poverty. With the HIV-Aids pandemic, many of the poorest households find themselves even more vulnerable and impoverished."

Nzimande said the SACP believed that a Basic Income Grant (BIG) should not be seen as a "dole" system, but as a complementary measure to other initiatives.

The SACP welcomed the extension of the Child Support Grant to poor children up to the age of 14 years, but it expressed concern about the high inflation rate of basic food prices.