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Chris Hani
The assassination of Chris Hani outside his home in Dawn Park on 10 April 1993 by a right-wing extremist was a decisive moment in the transition to democracy in South Africa. Drawing on personal knowledge of the ANC in exile in Lusaka, as well as archives and interviews, Hugh Macmillan shows in this book how it was that a man from a remote corner of the Transkei, who had never held high office, was held in such high esteem by so many people. He demonstrates how Hani’s conspicuous displays of both physical and moral courage, taken together with compassion and humanity, combined to make him a great leader.
- GenresSouthern Africa
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
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About the author
Hugh Macmillan
84 booksThe Rev. Hugh Macmillan was a 19th century Scottish minister of the Free Church of Scotland who served as their Moderator of the General Assembly in 1897. He was a prolific author on theological subjects and the relationship between God and Nature. His most popular book Bible Teachings in Nature ran to 15 editions in both UK and USA and translated into several languages.
He was born on 17 September 1833 in Aberfeldy the eldest of nine children to a merchant, Alexander Macmillan, and his wife, Margaret Macfarlane. He attended school in Aberfeldy then Hill Street Academy in Edinburgh. He began an Arts degree then Medicine at Edinburgh University but dropped out and decided instead to train for the Free Church of Scotland (which had been created in 1843). He trained at New College, Edinburgh.
He was licensed to preach in January 1857 and began his ministry at the Free Church in Breadalbane. In 1859 he moved to Kirkmichael Church in Perthshire. In 1864 he moved to the Free Church of St Peter in Glasgow, a far larger charge. In 1878 he moved again to the Free Church in Greenock.
In 1871 St. Andrews University awarded him an honorary doctorate (LLD) for his writing. In 1872 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, his proposer being John Hutton Balfour. The University of Edinburgh awarded him a belated honorary doctorate (DD) in 1879 and Glasgow University gave a second DD in 1883 and made a Fellow of the Scottish Society of Antiquaries in the same year.
In 1886 he delivered the Thomson Lecture at the Free Church College in Aberdeen. In 1894 he delivered the Cunningham Lecture at New College, Edinburgh. In 1897 he gave the Gunning Lecture at Edinburgh University. In the same year he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly to the Free Church of Scotland, the highest accolade in his church. He was invited to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria in London in this capacity. The queen is said to have greatly admired his books.
He lived his final years of ministry at 70 Union Street in Greenock. In 1892 he jointly founded the Clan MacMillan Society and served as its Chief 1892 to 1896. He retired in 1901. He died at home, 2 Murrayfield Road in West Edinburgh on 24 May 1903 and is buried in Dean Cemetery. The grave lies in the first northern extension, on its southern wall, backing onto the original cemetery.
He was born on 17 September 1833 in Aberfeldy the eldest of nine children to a merchant, Alexander Macmillan, and his wife, Margaret Macfarlane. He attended school in Aberfeldy then Hill Street Academy in Edinburgh. He began an Arts degree then Medicine at Edinburgh University but dropped out and decided instead to train for the Free Church of Scotland (which had been created in 1843). He trained at New College, Edinburgh.
He was licensed to preach in January 1857 and began his ministry at the Free Church in Breadalbane. In 1859 he moved to Kirkmichael Church in Perthshire. In 1864 he moved to the Free Church of St Peter in Glasgow, a far larger charge. In 1878 he moved again to the Free Church in Greenock.
In 1871 St. Andrews University awarded him an honorary doctorate (LLD) for his writing. In 1872 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, his proposer being John Hutton Balfour. The University of Edinburgh awarded him a belated honorary doctorate (DD) in 1879 and Glasgow University gave a second DD in 1883 and made a Fellow of the Scottish Society of Antiquaries in the same year.
In 1886 he delivered the Thomson Lecture at the Free Church College in Aberdeen. In 1894 he delivered the Cunningham Lecture at New College, Edinburgh. In 1897 he gave the Gunning Lecture at Edinburgh University. In the same year he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly to the Free Church of Scotland, the highest accolade in his church. He was invited to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria in London in this capacity. The queen is said to have greatly admired his books.
He lived his final years of ministry at 70 Union Street in Greenock. In 1892 he jointly founded the Clan MacMillan Society and served as its Chief 1892 to 1896. He retired in 1901. He died at home, 2 Murrayfield Road in West Edinburgh on 24 May 1903 and is buried in Dean Cemetery. The grave lies in the first northern extension, on its southern wall, backing onto the original cemetery.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 14, 2020
Such a great book! Love this pocket series by Jacana! There are so many inspiring people I want to read about but just not enough time to read full length biographies (and often not enough will-power to delve so deeply into people's entire lives) so these shorter biographies are so educational for finding out the important aspects of (in this case) the liberation leaders.
I was intrigued to find that Hani was exactly how I imagined him to be, but at the same time exactly the opposite. I always got the impression that he was highly militarised and emphasised the armed struggle the most; and while that was the case, he also tried to discourage a civil war and interrupted executions. It was also inspiring that after all his work during the struggle he did not feel that the Government of National Unity was part of his path. Reading this short biography made me extremely heartbroken and angry that his life was taken before he could play a part in post-Apartheid South Africa - a part that no doubt would have led to a far greater South Africa.
Was hoping that it would spend more time on his assassination - more about why as well as more on the TRC amnesty application and refusal, but understandably a biography is traditionally more about the person's life.
I was intrigued to find that Hani was exactly how I imagined him to be, but at the same time exactly the opposite. I always got the impression that he was highly militarised and emphasised the armed struggle the most; and while that was the case, he also tried to discourage a civil war and interrupted executions. It was also inspiring that after all his work during the struggle he did not feel that the Government of National Unity was part of his path. Reading this short biography made me extremely heartbroken and angry that his life was taken before he could play a part in post-Apartheid South Africa - a part that no doubt would have led to a far greater South Africa.
Was hoping that it would spend more time on his assassination - more about why as well as more on the TRC amnesty application and refusal, but understandably a biography is traditionally more about the person's life.
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March 19, 2020A concise and informative, albeit a bit dry, introduction to the life and thought of Chris Hani. However the author forgets to "...explain why the assassination of Chris Hani...in 1993 had a decisive influence on thr transition to democracy in South Africa."
February 25, 2021
A good, concise biography of Hani and his world. A little light, I thought, on his legacy and the consequences of his assassination, but on the whole very worthwhile.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews