March 14, 2016. Hundreds of members of the African National Congress (ANC) protested outside the Constitution Court in Johannesburg against a judges decision to release Januz Walus, the man who shot anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani dead in 1993. Walus, who has spent 23 years in prison, fatally shot Hani on the 10th of April 1993. Hani was the leader of the South African Communist Party and chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC and his murder almost led to a civil war in South Africa as negotiations to end apartheid were continuing. Protesters claimed that Janusz Walus is a racist murderer who deserves to spend his life in jail. Picture: IHSAAN HAFFEJEE
South Africa
By Hassan Isilow and Ahmet Sait Akcay
JOHANNESBURG
Hundreds of South Africans marched to the Constitutional Court on Monday to protest against the planned release of the killer of Chris Hani, a prominent anti-apartheid activisit.
Janusz Walus gunned down Hani outside his home in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, in April 1993.
Last week, the High Court in Pretoria ruled that Walus should be released on parole after serving 22 years in prison.
“Black and white South Africans know that Janusz Walus is a killer,” Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula told African National Congress (ANC) supporters outside the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg.
“He did not show remorse. He deserves to rot in jail for the rest of his life.”
He said the ruling ANC wanted the court to review the parole decision.
Hani, leader of the South African Communist Party, a close partner of the ANC, was killed in an attempt to derail democracy in South Africa.
“Comrade Chris Hani lived and struggled for peace, freedom and justice in South Africa,” Mzwandile Masina, deputy trade and industry minister, said as he delivered a list of demands to the Constitutional Court. “His murder brought pain and anger during that time when our country was transitioning from apartheid to democracy.”
He said the decision to release Walus was irrational, insensitive and disregarded the South African constitution.
Walus, who migrated from Poland to South Africa in 1981, was a member of South Africa’s far-right and a supporter of apartheid.
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