A Significant Book About a Significant Man: Hani: A life too short Launched in Johannesburg

October 29th, 2009 by Claire

The launch of Hani: A life too short at Exclusive Books Hyde Park was packed full to the veritable rafters. The first comprehensive biography of the MK veteran and struggle hero is written by Beauregard Tromp and Janet Smith, both of whom are journalists working for the Independent Newspaper Group. As a result this launch crowd comprised an interesting mix of avid EB Fanatics fans, celebrities, media, political and SA history fans – plus Tromp’s twin babies!

Guests were welcomed by the inimitable Maryanne Hancock from Exclusive Books, who called Hani: A life too short, “definitely one of the more significant books of 2009”. Then Jonathan Ball’s Jeremy Boraine spoke, and seemingly touched a nerve with the crowd as he described the assassination of Chris Hani as South Africa’s “JFK moment”. Acknowledging those “of a certain age” who collectively took a deep breath around the country in 1993 when Hani’s death was announced – he told how he, and presumably many other South Africans, still remember exactly where they were when they heard the news.

Boraine spoke of the importance of the book, saying it begs the question, “What if?” What if Chris Hani was still alive today? Would South Africa be different? Boraine praised the “remarkable amount of research” which both authors conducted and the level of effort they put into crafting the narrative.

Upon taking the microphone, Janet Smith spoke of how she and Tromp had agreed on the principles for writing the book early on – which included that Tromp should always be the driver! They conducted more than 50 interviews and asked all interviewees about Hani’s great attributes and flaws alike – finding that many had only praise for the man. She recalled how exciting it was to discover Hani’s 1969 memorandum about the ANC – which detailed concerns about corruption in exile ANC structures – saying he was “a remarkably prescient man”. She felt “privileged and honoured” to have worked on the book with Tromp.

Tromp said he wasn’t “one for public speaking” but spoke of the process of making the book together with Smith. He recognised how much of South Africa’s history is couched in oral traditions and how we therefore need to go out and search for it, as many of the older generation who remember our recent history first-hand are now dying.

He said that he feels the question, “What would Chris have done?” will be asked again and again as South Africans move forward past 2010. Tromp said that, perhaps, Hani lived just long enough to give us an inkling about “how it should be”, and that he has left South Africans “a great legacy”.

The speeches over, these two dynamic authors sat down to sign and sign and sign copies of their book, for what seemed like a never-ending queue of interested readers. Easily one of the biggest launches of the year!