South African government has deported Janusz Jakub Walus, the convicted murderer of anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani, to Poland
South African Government Deports Convicted Murderer Janusz Walus to Poland
(The Post News)- South African government has deported Janusz Walus, the convicted murderer of anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani, to Poland. This move comes after Walus’s parole period ended on December 6, 2024, in line with the Constitutional Court’s decision in 2022.
Walus, a Polish national, had been serving a life sentence for assassinating Chris Hani, the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party, on April 10, 1993. Hani’s tragic death played a pivotal role in forcing the negotiating parties to set a date for the first democratic General Elections on April 27, 1994.
Following the Constitutional Court’s order, Walus was placed on parole on December 7, 2022, subject to certain conditions. With his parole period now ended, the Department of Home Affairs has deported him to Poland, as he no longer holds any South African enabling documents.
The handover and deportation process was overseen by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) following a Cabinet briefing earlier this week. In preparation for this deportation, a government delegation, including Deputy President Paul Mashatile and several ministers, visited the family of Chris Hani to inform them of these developments.
During this engagement, the government delegation received a request for an inquest from Hani’s wife and the South African Communist Party (SACP). The request will be referred to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
This development brings closure to a chapter in South Africa’s history, as the country continues to grapple with the legacy of apartheid and the sacrifices made by leaders like Chris Hani.
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