S/African party demands new probe into Hani murder

By Agence de Presse Africaine Last updated Dec 6, 2022

APA-Johannesburg In the wake of the pending release from prison of South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani’ s murderer Janusz Walus, a top SACP official has demanded a new probe into the murder, citing“ unfinished business” surrounding a hit list recovered from the wife of Walus’ co-accused. The Constitutional Court in November ordered the release of…

APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) In the wake of the pending release from prison of South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Chris Hani’s murderer Janusz Walus, a top SACP official has demanded a new probe into the murder, citing “unfinished business” surrounding a hit list recovered from the wife of Walus’ co-accused.

SACP national chairperson Blade Nzimande said on Monday that Walus’ co-accused, Conservative politician Clive Derby-Lewis who died in prison in 2016, had a hit list of anti-apartheid activists, including Hani.

“Mrs. Derby-Lewis had a list and addresses of leaders, including Nelson Mandela, who had to be killed,” Nzimande said.

He added: “She wasn’t called to account about that list – and Chris was on that list indeed –which means that they wanted to kill more people.”

Nzimande said the SACP would push for a probe into the assassination of the charismatic leader who was killed in 1993 at his home in Dawn Park on Gauteng’s East Rand by Walus.

“We want an inquest, a full-blown inquest because, by the way, we do need to remind South Africa that there were a lot of things that were not followed up after the assassination of comrade Chris.”

The Constitutional Court in November ordered the release of Walus on parole, a move that has angered many members of the ruling tripartite alliance of the African National Congress, the Congress of the South African Trade Unions and the SACP.

The SACP said it has filed papers at the Constitutional Court in a bid to have the parole order rescinded.

Walus’ release from a Pretoria prison has been delayed following his stabbing by a fellow inmate last week and is receiving medical care, according to a prison official.

NM/jn/APA