Chris Hani’s convicted assassin, Janusz Walus, has been deported to Poland after completing a two-year parole period in South Africa.
Story Summary
- Janusz Walus, the man convicted of assassinating Chris Hani, has been deported to Poland after completing a two-year parole period in South Africa.
- Walus’ parole and deportation stem from a landmark Constitutional Court ruling that overturned initial refusals to release him.
- In Poland, Walus is expected to live freely, sparking debates about justice for politically motivated crimes.
Janusz Walus completes parole period, prepares for deportation
The Department of Correctional Services confirmed that Walus, who was released in December 2022, adhered to strict community correction guidelines during his parole.
His deportation marks the end of a decades-long chapter tied to one of South Africa’s most politically charged murders.
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Walus, now 71, was convicted for the 1993 murder of South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Chris Hani, an act that pushed South Africa to the brink of political turmoil during its transition to democracy.
His parole had been granted by the Constitutional Court after former Justice Minister Ronald Lamola’s initial refusal to release him in 2020 was overturned.
The Ministers of Correctional Services, Home Affairs, and the Presidency jointly announced the deportation on Friday, which fulfils a longstanding condition of Walus’ parole.
Chris Hani’s assassination: A brief history
On Easter Sunday, 10 April 1993, Hani was shot dead outside his Boksburg home.
Janusz Walus fired the fatal shots at close range, acting on instructions from Clive Derby-Lewis, a former member of the National Party.
The killing sent shockwaves through South Africa, threatening to derail delicate negotiations for the country’s first democratic elections.
Walus and Derby-Lewis were initially sentenced to death, but their penalties were commuted to life imprisonment after South Africa abolished the death penalty.
Derby-Lewis died in 2016, leaving Walus as the sole surviving figure directly linked to the assassination.
The decision to grant Walus parole drew widespread condemnation, including strong opposition from Hani’s widow, Limpho, who referred to the decision as a miscarriage of justice.
What does deportation mean for Janusz Walus?
With his return to Poland, Walus becomes subject to Polish law, though he will no longer serve parole conditions from South Africa.
His deportation effectively ends South Africa’s legal jurisdiction over him, sparking questions about whether Polish authorities will impose additional conditions.
In all likelihood, Walus will live as a free man in Poland unless the Polish government opts to monitor his activities.
While Walus leaves South Africa physically, his name remains etched in the country’s history—a symbol of the complexities of reconciliation, justice, and accountability.
