Janusz Walus release: Extremist who murdered South Africa’s Chris Hani to be deported to Poland

A infamous far-right extremist, convicted of murdering South African anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani, is ready to be deported to his native Poland, the federal government has mentioned.

Janusz Walus, 71, gunned down Hani outdoors his residence in 1993 at a tense time when the nation was getting ready its first multi-racial elections.

He spent virtually three a long time in jail in South Africa earlier than being freed on parole in 2022, sparking protests and an outcry, in a nation nonetheless grappling with racism and apartheid’s legacy.

Walus is ready to depart South Africa on Friday night time and the Polish authorities pays for the deportation, mentioned Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber.

South African Minister within the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni mentioned the choice wasn’t one the federal government had made, however they had been adhering to the choice made by the Constitutional Court.

Schreiber mentioned on X it was a “painful day” and a reminder of the “dark time” of apartheid for South Africans.

Hani’s widow, Limpho Hani, voiced her anguish, condemning the federal government and the South African Communist Party (SACP) for under notifying her on the final minute. She mentioned she was solely knowledgeable of Walus’s launch on Thursday.

Hani was a key member of the African National Congress (ANC), which led the battle towards white-minority rule and has been in energy ever since, and in addition head of the South African Communist Party. Since his homicide, he has grow to be revered as a hero of the battle for freedom and equality within the nation.

The ANC mirrored on the ache brought on by Hani’s assassination and mentioned the discharge was a reminder of “the bullet that pierced through our hearts, assassinating a father and comrade”.

“Your dastardly hand drips of the blood of a martyr and freedom fighter who paid the ultimate price for the freedom and love for humanity, democracy, and justice,” it learn.

Walus moved from Poland to South Africa in 1981 and was granted citizenship, which was revoked after his homicide conviction.

He was initially sentenced to demise, alongside together with his co-defendant Clive Derby-Lewis, however the sentence was commuted to life sentence after South Africa abolished the demise penalty.

He instructed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission tribunal in 1997 he had killed Hani to “to plunge the country into a state of chaos which would allow the right to take over”.

Walus mentioned that his experiences underneath communist Poland contributed to his resolution to homicide Hani.

Tensions had been extraordinarily excessive on the time, as South Africa was nearing the tip of apartheid, the racist system of white-minority rule.

ANC chief Nelson Mandela had been launched from jail in 1990 and was negotiating a peaceable transition of energy and elections, whereas some members of the white neighborhood feared there may very well be a breakdown in regulation and order.

Many feared the assassination of Hani would begin a race battle. Some say it practically derailed South Africa’s transition to democracy, which occurred the next 12 months.

ANC secretary normal Fikile Mbalula mentioned at a press briefing that Walus had “deprived South Africa of one of its greatest leaders”.

He added that his deportation with out a “full confession of his actions and conspiracies is an injustice”.

Mbalula referred to as for a complete inquiry into the killing to “expose the full scope of the crime”. The South African Communist Party has echoed the identical sentiments.

Walus has grow to be an notorious determine for the far-right areas in Poland. His face has been printed on scarves, T-shirts and posters. This merchandise has even been bought in South Africa.

A journalist who interviewed Walus for a guide mentioned extremists within the nation noticed him as “the great hope of the white race”.

Walus has by no means expressed regret for the killing of Hani.