Hani’s widow, SACP slam order for parole
Chris Hani’s widow, Limpho Hani, reacted with anger yesterday after her husband’s killer Janusz Walus was granted parole, saying the judgment was diabolical.
The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) earlier ruled that Walus be released within 10 days. The ConCourt found that the decision by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola not to grant Walus parole in 2020 was irrational.
“The minister of justice and correctional services is ordered to place the applicant [Janusz Walus] on parole on such terms and conditions as he may deem appropriate, and to take all such 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,” Chief Justice Raymond Zondo ruled.
After the judgment, Limpho Hani was visibly upset. “Walus has lost all his [previous] cases. Now he comes here [to the ConCourt] and whatever they say goes. I wish them all the best. Do you know about karma? Watch this space, all of them.”
Hani cited Tourism Minister Linsiwe Sisulu, who has been critical of the judiciary. “Lindiwe Sisulu, may she live long. She is the only one in this country who saw through these guys,” said Hani.
Hani said Zondo would not be chief justice had her husband not been murdered. “If my husband was not killed, we would never have had elections. [Nelson] Mandela then said to [FW] de Klerk, ‘for us to stop this, give us an election date’. That’s why Zondo and his friends today are sitting in this court. Otherwise we’d still be under apartheid,” she said.
Hani was the leader of the SA Communist Party (SACP) when he was assassinated. SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila said the party was “disappointed and shocked” with the ConCourt’s decision.
“We are shattered by this judgment, we think it was inconsistent with many issues which were referred to at this level [the ConCourt], which should not have reached this level.”
He also said “falsifications” were given to the court with regards to the victim-offender dialogue. “One may say that justice has given birth to injustice today.”
Mapaila said Walus did not meet the requirements for parole.
He claimed Walus had attacked another prisoner for having a picture of Mandela.
“How is that remorseful?” he asked.
Walus was serving a life sentence
at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria for killing Hani outside his home in Boksburg on 10 April, 1993.
Walus’ lawyer, advocate Roelof du Plessis, argued his client was reformed and had shown remorse.