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Killer of Chris Hani, Anti-Apartheid Activist, Is Granted Parole Parole for Killer of Chris Hani, Apartheid Opponent, Elicits an Outcry
(about 7 hours later)
A South African judge granted parole on Thursday to the killer of Chris Hani, a leading anti-apartheid activist who was assassinated in 1993. The decision to release the killer, Janusz Walus, provoked immediate criticism and revived painful memories of a murder aimed at derailing the country’s transition to black-majority rule.A South African judge granted parole on Thursday to the killer of Chris Hani, a leading anti-apartheid activist who was assassinated in 1993. The decision to release the killer, Janusz Walus, provoked immediate criticism and revived painful memories of a murder aimed at derailing the country’s transition to black-majority rule.
Mr. Hani, who was 50 when he was fatally shot in his driveway near Johannesburg on April 10, 1993, was the general secretary of the South African Communist Party and often regarded as the most popular figure in the African National Congress after Nelson Mandela. His death prompted an outpouring of grief and set off deadly riots.Mr. Hani, who was 50 when he was fatally shot in his driveway near Johannesburg on April 10, 1993, was the general secretary of the South African Communist Party and often regarded as the most popular figure in the African National Congress after Nelson Mandela. His death prompted an outpouring of grief and set off deadly riots.
Two right-wing whites — Mr. Walus, a Polish immigrant convicted of shooting Mr. Hani, and Clive Derby-Lewis, a pro-apartheid activist convicted of giving Mr. Walus the gun and a list of figures despised by white supremacists — were found guilty by an all-white court six months after the death. The case was seen as an important test of the country’s emerging multiracial democracy.Two right-wing whites — Mr. Walus, a Polish immigrant convicted of shooting Mr. Hani, and Clive Derby-Lewis, a pro-apartheid activist convicted of giving Mr. Walus the gun and a list of figures despised by white supremacists — were found guilty by an all-white court six months after the death. The case was seen as an important test of the country’s emerging multiracial democracy.
The killers hoped to provoke racial conflict and destabilize the government of President F. W. de Klerk, who had paved the way for Mr. Mandela’s release from prison in 1990. On the night of the assassination, Mr. Mandela told the nation that “the coldblooded murder of Chris Hani has sent shock waves throughout the country and the world” and appealed for calm.The killers hoped to provoke racial conflict and destabilize the government of President F. W. de Klerk, who had paved the way for Mr. Mandela’s release from prison in 1990. On the night of the assassination, Mr. Mandela told the nation that “the coldblooded murder of Chris Hani has sent shock waves throughout the country and the world” and appealed for calm.
Although the killing prompted violent unrest in the country’s impoverished townships, it also led Mr. Mandela to press Mr. de Klerk to set a date for South Africa’s first democratic elections on April 26, 1994. The elections ushered Mr. Mandela into power and ended three centuries of white domination.Although the killing prompted violent unrest in the country’s impoverished townships, it also led Mr. Mandela to press Mr. de Klerk to set a date for South Africa’s first democratic elections on April 26, 1994. The elections ushered Mr. Mandela into power and ended three centuries of white domination.
Mr. Walus, who shot Mr. Hani at point-blank range in the chin, behind the ear and in the chest, received a life sentence. He and Mr. Derby-Lewis later testified before the nation’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated apartheid-era crimes, in the hopes of receiving amnesty but were unsuccessful.Mr. Walus, who shot Mr. Hani at point-blank range in the chin, behind the ear and in the chest, received a life sentence. He and Mr. Derby-Lewis later testified before the nation’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated apartheid-era crimes, in the hopes of receiving amnesty but were unsuccessful.
In 2013, a parole board recommended the release of Mr. Walus, but the country’s justice minister decided not to grant parole, saying he had not sufficiently expressed remorse to the family of the victim. On Thursday, a High Court judge in Pretoria, Nicolene Janse van Nieuwenhuizen, approved Mr. Walus’s petition for parole, indicating that he was to be released within two weeks. The Justice Ministry said it was considering whether to appeal.In 2013, a parole board recommended the release of Mr. Walus, but the country’s justice minister decided not to grant parole, saying he had not sufficiently expressed remorse to the family of the victim. On Thursday, a High Court judge in Pretoria, Nicolene Janse van Nieuwenhuizen, approved Mr. Walus’s petition for parole, indicating that he was to be released within two weeks. The Justice Ministry said it was considering whether to appeal.
Mr. Hani’s widow, Limpho Hani, denounced the decision, telling a radio program, “Talk Radio 702,” that it was a “very sad day for South Africa.”Mr. Hani’s widow, Limpho Hani, denounced the decision, telling a radio program, “Talk Radio 702,” that it was a “very sad day for South Africa.”
Fikile Mbalula, the country’s minister for sports and recreation, also condemned the decision, calling it “an insensitive insult to the memory of Comrade Chris Hani” and other “liberation fighters who lost their lives” in the struggle to end white domination.Fikile Mbalula, the country’s minister for sports and recreation, also condemned the decision, calling it “an insensitive insult to the memory of Comrade Chris Hani” and other “liberation fighters who lost their lives” in the struggle to end white domination.
Mr. Walus’s co-conspirator, Mr. Derby-Lewis, who has lung cancer, was paroled on medical grounds last June.Mr. Walus’s co-conspirator, Mr. Derby-Lewis, who has lung cancer, was paroled on medical grounds last June.
Another notorious killer, Eugene de Kock, who had led a police death squad targeting anti-apartheid activists, was granted parole in January 2015 after 20 years in prison. Mr. de Kock had expressed remorse, cooperated with the authorities and helped victims to track down the remains of their loved ones. His parole, like that of Mr. Walus, was deeply polarizing for the country. South Africa has high levels of inequality, with high unemployment rates among blacks and wealth concentrated among whites and a small black elite.Another notorious killer, Eugene de Kock, who had led a police death squad targeting anti-apartheid activists, was granted parole in January 2015 after 20 years in prison. Mr. de Kock had expressed remorse, cooperated with the authorities and helped victims to track down the remains of their loved ones. His parole, like that of Mr. Walus, was deeply polarizing for the country. South Africa has high levels of inequality, with high unemployment rates among blacks and wealth concentrated among whites and a small black elite.