Hani killer makes another bid for parole

Chris Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus, has turned to the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) again in his bid to be placed on parole and then deported to Poland, says a report in The Star. In papers filed with the High Court, Walus will ask for an order that the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services’ Michael Masutha refusal to grant parole be set aside, alternatively that the court order his release, subject to his being deported to Poland. While Walus brought the application on an urgent basis, he acknowledged that it was not that urgent that it had to be heard immediately. The parties will ask Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba for directions as to when it will be placed on the roll. It is expected that the matter will be heard only around June. ‘It is obvious that I have done everything in my power to rehabilitate, to conduct myself in such a manner as to comply with the prison rules, and I have shown remorse,’ Walus said in papers. He also asked the court to consider him as an ordinary prisoner, serving a sentence for an ordinary crime, requesting that his case not be seen in a political context. However, he did state that Hani was killed in circumstances where he was ‘fighting as a foot soldier to uphold the apartheid state. This fact, should, however, not be held against me and be used against me, especially where I was not granted amnesty for the crimes that I am currently serving a (life) sentence for’.

Full report in The Star (subscription needed)