South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani’s killer Janusz Walus must be released from prison within 14 days‚ a Pretoria court ordered on Thursday.
His co-conspirator Clive Derby-Lewis‚ who is gravely ill with cancer‚ was released on June 5.
Hani was shot on April 10 1993 at his Dawn Park‚ Boksburg‚ home. A female neighbour who alerted police helped lead to quick arrests in the case that shocked the nation and almost derailed the handover to democracy.
Derby-Lewis procured the weapon for Walus‚ a Polish immigrant‚ who pulled the trigger.
Both were sentenced to death‚ but their sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment
Walus‚ now 63‚ successfully asked Judge Nicolene Janse van Nieuwenhuizen in the High Court to set aside the Justice Minster’s refusal to release him on parole.
Hani’s widow Limpho Hani told radio talkshow host Redi Tlhabi that the presiding judge was a racist who was playing God.
Snap chat: Mabz–M ?@Jack–KnifedSA tweeted this transcript of the interview: “Mrs Hani “how dare that white woman tell me to get over it? Is she god? Was her husband murdered.” She was mad! #ChrisHani“.
Mrs Hani also accused the judiciary of wanting to rule country through the backdoor‚ and stated judges should know they were not elected into their positions‚ according to reports.
“I’m not upset‚ but highly irritated‚” she said.
The SACP’s Alex Mashilo told PowerFM: “It was a barbaric act which must be condemned. We believe he must not be released“.
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa told SowetanLive: “The UDM notes the release of the killer of Chris Hani but that doesn’t mean we are satisfied with that.... I mean that just doesn’t make sense‚ I’m sorry.”
He said that there is nothing anyone can do as Walus and Derby-Lewis have used the loopholes in the justice system to run away from telling the truth.
He said that they will respect the court’s decision.
“One must accept that in as much as we are angry about the killing of Chris Hani‚ the laws of this country treat everybody equally. So if the courts have taken that view‚ the UDM notes the release of this killer.”
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said that it must be noted that Walus took the fall for a system that has not fallen.
“The racism with which he killed Chris Hani remains today in the systematic protection of white privilege at the expense of black people‚” he said. “…Until the systematic privileging of white people (sic) at the expense of black people exists‚ Hani’s death remains in vain.”
The parole was trending on Twitter.
Wandile @wiseprince posted: “Democracy says we want ABC. Law says you get XYZ. Judges must just rule SA once. Our views don’t matter at all. Chris Hani vs Janusz Walus” while Nick Mulgrew ?@NichMulgrew tweeted “Janusz Walus gets parole; yes‚ but parole in the kind of society he had nightmares of”.
Honourable Nthabi ?@Ausinthabi wanted the Public Protector to step in: “Can @ThuliMadonsela3 be given a task to investigate why #Walus killed #ChrisHani and who sent him! There’s more to this than we think“.
Chris Hani's widow slams judge over decision to parole Walus
His co-conspirator Clive Derby-Lewis‚ who is gravely ill with cancer‚ was released on June 5.
Hani was shot on April 10 1993 at his Dawn Park‚ Boksburg‚ home. A female neighbour who alerted police helped lead to quick arrests in the case that shocked the nation and almost derailed the handover to democracy.
Derby-Lewis procured the weapon for Walus‚ a Polish immigrant‚ who pulled the trigger.
Both were sentenced to death‚ but their sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment
Walus‚ now 63‚ successfully asked Judge Nicolene Janse van Nieuwenhuizen in the High Court to set aside the Justice Minster’s refusal to release him on parole.
Hani’s widow Limpho Hani told radio talkshow host Redi Tlhabi that the presiding judge was a racist who was playing God.
Snap chat: Mabz–M ?@Jack–KnifedSA tweeted this transcript of the interview: “Mrs Hani “how dare that white woman tell me to get over it? Is she god? Was her husband murdered.” She was mad! #ChrisHani“.
Mrs Hani also accused the judiciary of wanting to rule country through the backdoor‚ and stated judges should know they were not elected into their positions‚ according to reports.
“I’m not upset‚ but highly irritated‚” she said.
The SACP’s Alex Mashilo told PowerFM: “It was a barbaric act which must be condemned. We believe he must not be released“.
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa told SowetanLive: “The UDM notes the release of the killer of Chris Hani but that doesn’t mean we are satisfied with that.... I mean that just doesn’t make sense‚ I’m sorry.”
He said that there is nothing anyone can do as Walus and Derby-Lewis have used the loopholes in the justice system to run away from telling the truth.
He said that they will respect the court’s decision.
“One must accept that in as much as we are angry about the killing of Chris Hani‚ the laws of this country treat everybody equally. So if the courts have taken that view‚ the UDM notes the release of this killer.”
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said that it must be noted that Walus took the fall for a system that has not fallen.
“The racism with which he killed Chris Hani remains today in the systematic protection of white privilege at the expense of black people‚” he said. “…Until the systematic privileging of white people (sic) at the expense of black people exists‚ Hani’s death remains in vain.”
The parole was trending on Twitter.
Wandile @wiseprince posted: “Democracy says we want ABC. Law says you get XYZ. Judges must just rule SA once. Our views don’t matter at all. Chris Hani vs Janusz Walus” while Nick Mulgrew ?@NichMulgrew tweeted “Janusz Walus gets parole; yes‚ but parole in the kind of society he had nightmares of”.
Honourable Nthabi ?@Ausinthabi wanted the Public Protector to step in: “Can @ThuliMadonsela3 be given a task to investigate why #Walus killed #ChrisHani and who sent him! There’s more to this than we think“.
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