EKURHULENI - Chaos reigned at an event marking 33 years since Chris Hani's assassination.
The Hani family was a no-show, reportedly because of the Ekurhuleni municipality's involvement in proceedings.
At the same time, more cracks were evident in the rift between the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP).
SACP deputy national chairperson Thulas Nxesi said it was not planned properly
"We tried to fix things. Unfortunately, the family didn’t see eye-to-eye with us over the municipality’s planning for this. They have left.”
“The communists and workers agree that without the family, they will recuse themselves. We will leave the municipality to continue with the programme as they had planned," he said.
Conflicting reasons were given for the Hani family’s absence.
The postponement didn't deter the ANC Youth League, which used the occasion to take a swipe at the communist party.
ANC Youth League Collen Malatjie said Hani does not belong to "Solly and his friends."
"Comrade Chris Hani belongs to the African National Congress. Solly must go and form his own political party and leave the Communist Party of the people of South Africa that belongs to Chris Hani to continue to work with the African National Congress," he said.
The municipality is adamant the relationship with Chris Hani’s family can be salvaged.