On 10 April, the day South Africa remembers the assassination of struggle leader Chris Hani, 041culture writer Mvume Ndima reflects on the legacy of the man many still believe could have shaped the country’s future in profound ways. His reflections come as he reads Who Really Killed Chris Hani?, a book by retired Judge Chris Nicholson that revisits the events surrounding Hani’s 1993 assassination and questions whether the convicted killers acted alone.
I was committed to doing a full in depth book review of what I consider to be a stunning piece of non-fiction, written by Chris Nicholson. Well researched and informative, Mr Nicholson matter-of-factly connects the assassination of Chris Hani to a broader, global conspiracy that can only be described as vast.
Now, while I was personally unable to finish his work, and for that I am truly sorry, I do feel that today, 10 April 2026, is a great time to share my thoughts on the subject matter of the book and the handful of takeaways I got from it.
Mainly:
1. The far-right is a death cult
Chris Hani, a prominent figure in the struggle for South Africa’s liberation from Apartheid rule, was murdered outside his home on the morning of 10 April 1993. A bullet fired by Janusz Walus ended the life of Mr Hani, two months shy of his 51st birthday.
Assisted by Clive Derby-Lewis, a member of South Africa’s Conservative Party, Walus was a staunch advocate for white supremacist ideals. He believed that the Apartheid government was right to segregate people by race and the Polish immigrant was willing to take drastic action to see the Apartheid regime continue its dominance over the South African people.
That fateful morning of 10 April was not his goal, however. Hani was one of many names and addresses listed in Walus’ little black book. The idea from the Pole being that if there are no leaders, there is no revolution.
The news media painted the assassination as the act of a lone gunman, assisted by a known racist in Derby-Lewis. The media was unable or rather refused to dig any deeper into the matter. The author and I agree that this was not the case as influence from MI6 and the CIA was present during the planning and execution of this assassination.
That said, this to me is indicative of how the far-right operates. They speak the language of merit and fairness but in action they are killers waiting for the chance to be given licence to do so. We have seen so many examples since the murder of Hani to prove this point further.
The ongoing conflict in Iran is a great example of how the far-right sustains itself on the bloodshed of enemies and allies alike. Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the kidnapping of the president of Venezuela, the existence of the Epstein files and the insistence on moving on from them shows that this movement, and many others left of it to be fair, rely on death to make their point heard.
They do not act in the best interest of others. Instead they act in the interest of white supremacy, an ideology that in itself is soaked in blood.
And the fact that the far-right and white supremacist ideology gave an immigrant the audacity to believe it was their responsibility to murder a prominent citizen of the country they did not belong to is proof that above all else that side of politics craves blood to exist.
2. Chris is who we thought Nelson Mandela would be
It is asserted by the author that Chris Hani is the best president South Africa never had. Soldier, politician and academically gifted, Chris Hani was in every way the leader the new South Africa needed. He was uncompromising, incorruptible and a true man of his word.
A member of the South African Communist Party, uMkhonto weSizwe and the armed wing of the African National Congress, Hani devoted his life to the struggle against Apartheid. He gave all of his free time to the cause, to the point of not wanting to play sports because fighting for his people was a more worthy cause in his opinion.
Chris Hani did not just talk a good game. He did not appear like a leader. He was a leader, a man who was ready and able to lead from the front at all times. A veteran of combat all over the continent, Hani was nothing like the soft-handed, well manicured politicians of today. He was truly a man of the people.
I often wonder how different our country would be had Walus missed his shot 33 years ago. Would Chris Hani have made the impact I believe he could?
I have no doubt in my mind that he would have won the presidency of the ANC, but what about after that?
Although he never fully aligned with pan-Africanist ideals, his time fighting across borders showed a deep care and consideration of our people inside and outside our borders.
His Marxist, anti-imperialist approach to politics focused heavily on the exploited working class without necessarily leading on racial division as a focus. The fact that the working class were predominantly black was merely a feature of the way Apartheid was designed.
A leader who could not be bought, cared for all peoples on the continent regardless of race or nationality and someone with a proven track record of fighting not only with words but with his life tells me we lost a powerful influence on the continent.
3. We really never learned about this guy in school
The more I read about Chris Hani, the angrier I became.
Having taken history as a subject in high school, we learned a lot about our history. We learned about the Mfecane, the rise of Shaka Zulu, British colonialism, Dutch settlers arriving and the horrors of Apartheid.
We went to museums. We went to Robben Island. All of that.
But nothing on the most high-profile assassination in our country’s history?
I always knew the name Chris Hani, but I did not really know anything about him, what he stood for, what his politics were, who he was as a man or a leader and I am poorer for that fact.
While some schools may have taught this as part of their syllabus, he is still greatly under-represented as a factor in our country’s history.
His strength as a leader was unparalleled. His ability to remain flexible in the face of the ever-changing political climate is a trait rarely seen in any politician. Being able to take up arms when necessary and relinquish them when violence was no longer needed is truly an admirable quality to have as a leader and role model for many young South Africans.
4. International espionage has been part of South Africa since the beginning
As mentioned above, many international intelligence services had operations or operatives in the country not only at the time of Hani’s assassination but since the very beginning. For as long as South Africa has existed, pre and post democracy, there has been a clandestine presence in our nation.
During the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Walus and Derby-Lewis sought amnesty, claiming that their involvement in killing Chris Hani was a result of them following orders.
Now while I would not put it past these worms to lie in order to escape accountability for their actions, it is plain to me that there is a possibility that influence from abroad had put these events into motion long before a shot was fired.
Hani was a victim of numerous failed assassination attempts throughout his political life. He was always a target for the ire of people who wanted South Africa to stay as it was.
His strong nature and incorruptible mentality made him a liability for nation states who enjoyed the benefit of South African labour and resources without having to pay a fair price for it.
Hani, an academic and soldier, posed a threat not only to the status quo but arguably to the entire economic system as we know it.
As we approach the 33rd anniversary of his assassination we mourn his loss. As a nation we mourn the loss of potential. We mourn the loss of a leader.
But we celebrate as well. We celebrate the example. We celebrate that his life was not ended in vain. We celebrate the freedom we enjoy on the back of his sacrifice.
Lala ngoxolo Chris Hani. The fighter we needed when others were too busy.
Also, we need a Xhosa Hall of Fame guys. Like come on.
Mandela
Hani
Mbeki
Sontonga
Kholisi
Like where would this nation be without iiDyan?
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