Chris Hani’s killer Janusz Walus has taken his parole bid to South Africa’s Constitutional Court, but it appears like he might be on a long way to freedom.
His parole bids have been turned down each time since he started applying in 2011.
Janusz Walus gunned down the leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP) back in April 1993 and was initially sentenced to death for his crimes. The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
Back in March 2020, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola had declined to approve Janusz Walus’ release on parole.
Earlier this Monday, Walus’ advocate Roelof du Plessis had argued that ministers are political appointees and that since the SACP is somehow linked to the ruling ANC, it might be hard for the minister’s decision not to be influenced by the political parties.
But the lawyer to Ronald Lamola countered that his client is not under a form of political pressure in considering parole for Janus, adding there’s no merit in Roelof du Plessis’ argument.
Having been in jail for almost three decades is thought to be one of South Africa’s longest-serving prisoners. Amid the arguments in court, Chris Hani’s widow says all she wants is justice for her man – and that means keeping the felon in the slammer.
