Janusz Walus, the extremist who infamously killed South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Chris Hani in 1993, is set to be deported to his native Poland on Friday, according to Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber. This decision comes as Walus’s parole period comes to an end, following his release from prison two years ago.
Schreiber stated that the deportation will be carried out, with Poland covering the associated costs. The decision to deport Walus was made by ministers in the justice cluster and approved by the cabinet on Wednesday. However, the news was intentionally withheld from the public until the deportation was imminent.
During his time on parole, Walus was deemed a security risk. His loss of South African citizenship in 2017 meant that he no longer held any enabling South African documents. Despite being granted residency under an exemption in the Immigration Act after his release from prison, the decision has now been made to deport him back to Poland.
The Hani family, who strongly opposed Walus’s release on parole, were informed of the decision by Deputy President Paul Mashatile. The South African Communist Party (SACP) also expressed their disapproval of Walus’s release.
Walus was initially sentenced to death for the murder of Chris Hani, an act that nearly plunged South Africa into civil war during the final days of apartheid. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment after the death penalty was abolished. After 28 years behind bars, Walus was eventually released on parole, following a lengthy legal battle.
Former justice minister Ronald Lamola rejected Walus’s last parole application in 2020, citing the severity of the crime and its potential to destabilize the country during a critical period of transition. However, this decision was overturned by the constitutional court in November 2022.
In a unanimous judgment, the court emphasized the importance of upholding fundamental rights for all individuals, regardless of their past affiliations or actions. As a result, Walus was ordered to be released within 10 days. Despite a minor altercation with another inmate prior to his release, Walus was ultimately freed.
There was initial resistance to Walus’s deportation due to political factors, as the right-wing Law and Justice Party was in power in Poland at the time. However, with the party losing its parliamentary majority last year, the path has now been cleared for Walus’s return to Poland.
As Janusz Walus prepares to leave South Africa, the legacy of his heinous crime continues to loom large over the country’s history, serving as a stark reminder of the turbulent times that marked the end of apartheid.
