ConCourt orders Hani’s killer Janusz Walus be released on parole
The Constitutional Court has upheld the appeal by Chris Hani’s killer Janusz Walus against an earlier decision to deny him parole.
Walus has served 28 years of a life sentence at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre for the murder of the South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani.
Hani was assassinated by Walus and his late accomplice Clive Derby-Lewis outside his Boksburg home in 1993.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo ordered that the Polish immigrant be placed on parole and released within 10 calendar days.
“The decision of the Gauteng division of the High Court Pretoria dismissing the applicant’s application is set aside and replaced with the following: a) The decision of the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Minister made in March 20202 rejecting the applicant's application for parole is reviewed and set aside.; b) The Minister is ordered to place the applicant on parole on such terms and conditions as he may deem appropriate and to take all steps as may need to be taken to ensure the applicant is released on parole within 10 calendar days from the date of this order,” Zondo said.
Zondo found the reasons advanced by the minister for denying Walus’ release were “inexplicable and irrational”.
The ruling has angered Hani’s widow who, along with the minister and the SACP, had opposed the application.
Speaking to eNCA, Limpho Hani labelled the ruling as “diabolical”.
“This is dictatorship at the highest, this country is finished as long as we have this court led by Zondo and this club of his.”
Hani was supported in court by SACP leader Solly Mapaila and ANC Gauteng chairperson Panyaza Lesufi.
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