United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have responded to reports that Chris Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus will be released on parole.
The wife of slain anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani says a decision by the High Court in Pretoria to release her husband’s killer on parole in 14 days, marks a sad day for South Africa.
Janusz Walus was imprisoned nearly 23 years ago and his application for parole was set aside by Justice Minister Michael Masutha earlier this year.
Limpho Hani has also launched a scathing attack on the judge that handed down the ruling accusing her of being a racist.
Hani says the judge has no right to tell her to forgive Walus and move on.
“It’s very sad for South Africa. It’s a very sad day. I am not upset, but I am highly irritated that this white woman can tell me how to feel. She comes with a white superiority complex to tell me I should forgive [and] I should move on. It is not her husband that was murdered.”
At the time of his death Hani was head of the South African communist party which says it is not surprised by the decision.
At the time of his death, Hani was a leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP).
The SACP was present for the judgment and spokesperson Alex Mashilo says they are disappointed but not surprised.
“We received the judgment with great disappointment, but in a way the signs that it will come out this way were there because the judge kept asking questions which suggested that she will make an order such as the one she made today.”
Lawyers representing Walus argued that he should be released on parole for the purposes of Ubuntu.
Advocate Roelof du Plessis said forgiveness from the Hani family, the SACP and all South Africans is vital so that the country could move on.
MASUTHA BIASED
A week ago, Advocate Roelof du Plessis argued that Minister Michael Masutha’s decision not to grant his client parole is solely because of political prejudice and interference.
Du Plessis said in terms of the law, the Justice Minister is supposed to take no more than 90 days after a parole board’s recommendation to make his decision on an offender’s freedom.
He said it had taken the minister a year to come back with a decision.
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