The South African Communist Party (SACP) has reiterated its demand for a thorough inquest into the 1993 assassination of its former Secretary General, Chris Hani, following the deportation of his killer, Janusz Walus, to Poland on Friday.
Walus, a Polish-born right-wing extremist, was convicted of Hani's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment before being released on parole in 2022, sparking widespread criticism.
Walus who was believed to have been in the employ of Clive Derby-Lewis to assassinate Hani had applied for amnesty to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), however their applications were declined.
The SACP, along with Hani's family, has expressed dissatisfaction with the government's handling of Walus's deportation, saying that it “rubs salt into the family's wounds”.
The party believes that Walus's parole is unjust, as he and his co-conspirators never fully revealed the truth behind the assassination.
According to SACP Central Committee Member Tinyiko Ntini, there are still many hidden truths surrounding Hani's murder that can only be revealed through an inquest.
The party has been calling for an inquest since April last year, arguing that it would help uncover the whole truth behind Hani's murder and bring other perpetrators to justice.
Speaking on national television former TRC Commissioner and Human Rights Lawyer Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza expressed scepticism about the potential outcomes of the inquest, suggesting that it would likely not yield any results.
“justice should be seen in the light of the prevalent jurisprudence in SA at the time”.
Hani's assassination was a pivotal moment in South Africa's history, sparking widespread outrage and fears of unrest during the country's transition to democracy.
The SACP has vowed to continue to push for an inquest saying that the deportation of Walus had reignited a desire for truth and accountability.
Last week minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, during a media briefing in Pretoria announced the news of Walus’ deportation.
“On 21 November 2022, the Constitutional Court ordered that Walus be placed on parole within 10 days of the date of the order, in line with applicable legislation. At the time, the applicable parole period was two years. Janusz Walus was subsequently placed on parole on 7 December 2022, subject to parole conditions.
“Today, the 6th December 2024, the parole period of Janusz Walus has come to an end, in line with the Constitutional Court decision. Since Janusz Walus no longer holds any SA enabling documents, the Department of Home Affairs will be deporting him,” Ntshavheni explained.
She conceded that a government delegation led by deputy president Paul Mashatile had received a request for an inquest from Hani’s wife Limpho and the SACP.
“The request will be referred to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development,” Ntshavheni said.
However, GOOD party secretary-general Brett Herron welcomed the news of Walus’s deportation saying it was “good riddance to bad rubbish”.
“The assassination of Chris Hani, in 1993, nearly derailed negotiations to end apartheid…While we say good riddance to bad rubbish – to Walus – we call on government to do more to implement the recommendations of the TRC, to carry out prosecutions, to spend the money languishing in the president’s fund and to reduce inequality,” Herron said.
The Star