After the South Africa government resisted moves to release Janusz Walus, saying he showed no remorse for the April 1993 murder which threatened to derail South Africa’s transition to democracy, an announcement was made this week the functionaries of Apartheid received parole after serving almost 23 years in jail. The parole was granted by the North Gauteng High Court.
Walus’ lawyers argued he should be freed in the spirit of reconciliation. He was serving a life sentence after being convicted in October 1993. Walus, a Polish immigrant, shot Hani dead outside his Johannesburg home over the Easter weekend in 1993.
Meanwhile the DA said it will be submitting parliamentary questions to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mike Masutha, seeking legal clarity if all processes and protocols were observed by the North Gauteng High Court and the Parole Board in coming to this decision.
The party says “the Apartheid system and Walus’ conduct spurred on a series of violent acts by functionaries that represent the worst in South Africa society’s history. “These actions are to be condemned in the strongest terms possible. Millions of South Africans suffered under the Apartheid system and are still healing the wounds today.”
Apartheid death-squad leader Eugene de Kock, dubbed ‘Prime Evil’ for his role in the torture and murder of scores of black activists in the 1980s and early 1990s, was freed on parole last year after serving more than 20 years in prison.
