S/Africa: Hani’s killer released on parole

By Agence de Presse Africaine Last updated Dec 9, 2022

APA-Pretoria Convicted assassin Janusz Walus, who gunned down South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani in 1993, has been released on a two-year parole under strict conditions, APA learnt on Thursday. The release followed a Constitutional Court judgement handed down in November after the Polish national had served 30 years of a life sentence.

APA-Pretoria (South Africa) Convicted assassin Janusz Walus, who gunned down South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Chris Hani in 1993, has been released on a two-year parole under strict conditions, APA learnt on Thursday.

The release came after Walus was discharged from a prison hospital where he underwent treatment after being stabbed by a fellow inmate on November 28, three days before he was to be released from prison.

The release followed a Constitutional Court judgement handed down in November after the Polish national had served 30 years of a life sentence.

“The convict will serve two years under community corrections in line with the parole regime upon which he is released,” Justice Minister Ronald Ramola said.

He added: “There is no question that offender Walus 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.”

Walus gunned down the SACP leader in December 1993, on the eve of South Africa’s post-independence elections that took place in early 1994.

NM/jn/APA