Johannesburg – As expected the South African Communist Party (SACP) has reacted angrily to Wednesday’s release on parole of Janusz Walu? – the convicted killer of anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani.
Walus’s release, ordered by the Constitutional Court after the Polish national served about 25 years of his life sentence, was delayed by a week after he was stabbed by an inmate and had to undergo treatment at a prison hospital.
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Earlier on Wednesday, the Department of Justice and Correctional Services said Walu? had been discharged from the hospital section of the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Prison and had been released on parole.
“The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, has placed offender Janus Walu? on parole under strict conditions with effect from Wednesday, (7 December 2022),” the department said.
“This follows the judgment of the Constitutional Court handed down on Monday, 21 November 2022. Offender Walu? was only discharged from hospital today.”
Reacting to Walu?’s release on Parole, the SACP said: “We were deeply disappointed on 21 November 2022whenn the Constitutional Court delivered a judgment ordering that the triggerman who assassinated Chris Hani in cold blood on 10 April 1993 be placed on parole within 10 days”.
The SACP added: “Our disappointment has been deepening. It continues to deepen.”
In response to the judgment, the SACP and the Hani family filed papers with the Constitutional Court to reconsider and rescind it.
The SACP said: “In addition, we have filed papers with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights as part of the legal avenues available to us in seeking justice and equal access to courts.
“Together with our allies and other interested South Africans, we will also continue with our programme of mass mobilisation.
“We will not be deterred. We are continuing with our 135-day programme of action up to 10 April 2023, the 30th anniversary of the commemoration of Chris Hani.
“Among others, we demand a full inquest into the assassination of Chris Hani to seek full disclosure of the truth, accountability, and justice.
“We have resolved to expand the campaign to cover other victims of apartheid and seek justice for their families, including the families of the ‘Craddock Four’ namely Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli, and Sparrow Mkhonto”.
The Department of Justice and Correctional Services on Wednesday revealed that Walus “will serve two years under community corrections in line with the parole regime upon which he is released”.
RELATED: ANC, SACP, COSATU Demand Inquiry Into Chris Hani Assassination – The Bulrushes
The department conceded that there was “no question that offender Walu? is a polarising figure in our budding constitutional democracy, and that his release has understandably re-opened wounds among some in society, especially the family of the late struggle icon Chris Hani”.
Department spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said Walu? was released on parole with strict conditions that he could not disclose for “security reasons”.
