Janusz Walus, after spending more than two decades in prison for the assassination of struggle icon Chris Hani, was granted parole in a landmark Constitutional Court ruling handed down on Monday.
Why was Janusz Walus granted parole?
As reported by Business Day, the apex court granted Walus conditional release on his fifth attempt at parole. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who delivered the ruling, criticised Justice Minister Ronald Lamola’s decision to refuse the Polish assassin parole in 2020.
“The minister’s decision was irrational, falls to be reviewed and must be set aside,” Zondo ruled.
While Zondo recognised the gravity of Walus’ crime, the ConCourt chief justice insisted that the Polish convict and his accomplice Clive Derby-Lewis had rightfully served the minimum required time in prison and, therefore, were eligible for parole.
In 2020, Walus’ parole bid was rejected by Lamola, who made it clear at the time that his decision was driven by the vengeful urge of making an example out of a political killer.
A brief history of Chris Hani’s assassination
Janusz Walus was convicted of the murder of Chris Hani, the late Secretary-General of the South African Communist Party (SACP).
Walus, it was later discovered in court, drove to Hani’s house in Boksburg, Gauteng, on the Easter Sunday morning of 10 April 1993 with every intention of executing instructions given to him by former National Party (NP) leader Clive Derby-Lewis.
Hani, at the time, had just pulled into his driveway and, as he got out of his car, Walus called out to the SACP leader. As he turned around, Walus fired the first shot that struck Hani in the torso.
As soon as he collapsed to the ground, Walus delivered three deathly shots to Hani’s head, killing him instantly.
Walus would have most probably gotten away with murder, were it not for the vigilance of a neighbour who took down the assassin’s registration plates.
An investigation in the murder uncovered the sadistic plot spearheaded by Derby-Lewis, who was also held accountable for Hani’s murder.
Both suspects were found guilty of killing the SACP struggle icon and sentenced to death but this was overturned after South Africa abolished the hefty penalty.
Janusz Walus parole conditions
Walus is scheduled to be released from prison within 10 days of Monday’s ruling. As a parolee, the convicted murderer will likely be released to a community corrections facility, where his movements will be monitored by a dedicated parole officer.
While Walus’ parole conditions have yet to be formally released by the Department of Correctional Services, it’s likely that he will:
- be restricted from travelling outside of his residential province without obtaining approval from the department of correctional services;
- have to report daily at a nearby police station;
- live under intense scrutiny from the police and corrections department; and
- abandon his rights to a passport.
Reacting to Janusz Walus’ parole ruling, Chris Hani’s wife, Limpho, blasted Zondo for what she terms was a miscarriage of justice.
“In this country, a foreign white can come to this country and kill my husband. Lindiwe Sisulu, I give it to you my sister. You are vindicated today. Listen to black people when they tell you about justice in this country. We are in sh*t,” she added.