Masutha appeals Hani killer’s parole

Amanda Watson

Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Michael Masutha will today ask the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to overturn the parole granted to the killer of the SA Communist Party’s (SACP) former general secretary, Chris Hani.

Hani was gunned down in April 1993 by Polish national Janusz Walus and, with co-conspirator Clive Derby-Lewis having died in November last year, the SACP is desperate for Walus to reveal “all the circumstances of Hani’s assassination”.

“Walus’s own physiological evaluation in prison clearly states that he still harbours the same hatred against communists that he followed to murder our party general secretary in cold blood,” said SACP Free State provincial secretary Bheke Stofile.

The SACP will picket outside the SCA today “in support of our legitimate and objective call for an official inquest into Hani’s assassination”.

“Walus remains a dangerous man to be let loose in a democratic South Africa. The picket is part of our efforts, our genuine campaign, to have full disclosure of the truth detailing all the circumstances of Hani’s assassination. Walus has the responsibility to co-operate. His failure to co-operate is undisputed evidence that he failed correction in prison,” Stofile said, calling Walus an “unrepentant murderer”.

At the time of Derby-Lewis’ death, Pretoria News reported that Walus sent a message from jail which read: “I have taken note of the allegations made by my co-accused in his recent interview, which I have read about in the media. I wish to distance myself completely from the views expressed by him. I unreservedly apologised for and deeply regret my actions. I followed the instructions of Mr Derby-Lewis, which I should never have done.”

Derby Lewis, who supplied the pistol used by Walus, claimed Walus had volunteered to kill Hani, in an interview after being released on parole after 22 years in jail. Walus has served 23 years so far.