2017-05-24 06:00
Selloane Khalane
The appeal hearing for the parole of Janusz Walus, Chris Hani's convicted assassin, is expected to be heard in the Bloemfontein Supreme Court of Appeal on Monday (29/05).
The matter was postponed on 5 May to allow Justice Minister Michael Masutha to add a statement of the Hani family to the heads of arguments.
The acting judge president of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Mandisa Maya, gave Masutha's decision to not consider the Hani family's statement for arguments as the reason for postponement.
Walus shot and killed the South African Communist Party (SACP) leader 24 years ago at his home in Boksburg, Gauteng. Walus is a Polish-South African political activist and far-right extremist.
He is currently serving a life sentence for the 1993 assassination of Hani.
Last year the North Gauteng High Court set aside Masutha's decision to deny Walus parole.
The Correctional Services Department is now challenging the North Gauteng High Court's order for his release.
Mthunzi Mhaga, spokesperson for the minister, said the victim impact statement will now be added to the heads of argument, which was expected to be filed by 12 May.
The Hani family has supported the State's bid, saying that the SACP leader's killer did not deserve to be freed.
Solly Mapaila, SACP second deputy general secretary, insisted that Walus should tell the Hani family the truth on the mitigating factors surrounding the assassination of Hani so that the family can find closure.
The SACP stated that it was prepared to take its bid to have Walus remain behind bars to the Constitutional Court.
"Walus must tell the truth and give the Hani family closure. Hani's murder remained an exceptional crime because it was an assassination of a prominent leader that was committed on the eve of our democracy and could have resulted in civil war," said Mapaila.
Mapaila's sentiment over civil war is based on the fact that the assassination of Hani took place during a time when negotiations to end apartheid were taking place.
Limpho Hani, Hani's widow, thanked SACP supporters who had gathered outside the Supreme Court of Appeal, adding that for more than ten years, Hani's story was "shelved by leadership".
"It is only under President Jacob Zuma that Chris Hani's legacy is remembered," said Limpho.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Local/Express-News/janusz-walus-must-tell-truth-20170523