Hani killer Clive Derby-Lewis dies

Hani killer Clive Derby-Lewis dies

Clive Derby-Lewis, the mastermind behind the assassination of Chris Hani - has died after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 80.

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His wife Gaye confirmed the news on Thursday.


Derby-Lewis was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1993 - after being convicted of orchestrating the murder of SACP leader, Chris Hani, in April 1993.


Hani was shot in the head and back outside his Dawn Park home near Boksburg by Polish immigrant, Janusz Walus.


Derby-Lewis supplied the gun Walus used to murder Hani.


The former right-wing politician was released from a Pretoria prison on medical parole in June last year, after doctors discovered he was suffering from terminal cancer.  He was placed under house arrest with strict conditions.


He had previously been denied medical parole three times - in 2000, 2011 and 2013 respectively - before obtaining a High Court order granting him a release, in 2015. 


He died at his Johannesburg home, with his former-nun wife by his side.


Derby-Lewis grew up in Kimberley, before moving to Johannesburg where he practised as an accountant. He later became a minister in the Catholic Church.

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