Chris Hani killer to remain behind bars
Updated | By Sinethemba Madolo
The man convicted of the murder of former South African Communist Party (SACP) general-secretary Chris Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus, has again been denied parole.
Justice Minister Michael Masutha made the announcement in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Walus was sentenced to death in 1993 following his conviction but the sentence was later commuted to life after the death penalty was outlawed.
In November 2017, Walus was denied parole and Masutha directed that certain conditions be met, a decision which was later challenged by Walus in the North Gauteng High Court in September 2018.
The court ruled that the decision be set aside purely on procedural grounds.
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Masutha says the SACP and Hani's family both said that Walus needed further psychological treatment for depression and anger management.
In a report compiled by psychologist Joel Mbhele, he states that Walus does not feel remorse.
"Regarding empathy, it can be said that he expresses remorse for the fact that the victim’s children are fatherless and wife is a widow. However, he showed no remorse for murdering Chris Hani the communist leader. He still rationalises his actions and insists that they were politically motivated. His ideas about communism still stand.”
A separate report compiled by another psychologist Zelda Buitendag states that Walus does appear to be remorseful.
"When asked about his reasoning regarding Mr Hani’s murder and if he is rationalising it, he admits to rationalising the assassination before, during and shortly after committing the offence. But says he realises that violence and killing someone is not the answer, even if people have different views. It is morally wrong and he feels guilty about it."
Masutha says in making his decisions he factored in the possibility of Walus re-offending and his remorse.
"Having considered the various reports of psychologists above and contradictions arising therein it was difficult for me to a determination on the suitability on placement for parole at this stage.”
Masutha ordered that a further profile be submitted in six months.
"In light of the conflicting psychological reports from Dr. Zelda Buitendag and Mr Joel Mbhele, I have directed that the two professionals jointly asses the inmate and file a joint report on the issues concerning risk of re-offending and remorse.”
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