Despite no longer being a South African citizen, Janusz Walus will serve his parole term in the country, the ministry of home affairs said on Monday.
Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi granted Chris Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus, permanent residency in South Africa in order for him to serve his parole.
“The Minister granted the exemption in order for Mr Walus to serve to serve his parole period in South Africa and the exemption contains a condition that Mr Walus may not use any travel document and/or passport issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland,” reads a statement from the department.
This comes after a landmark ruling by Chief Justice Raymod Zondo in the Constitutional Court to allow Walus out on parole. Zondo ordered that Walus must be released from prison within 10 days.
Walus, a Polish immigrant, assassinated Hani, a popular ANC and SACP leader in 1993.
In a unanimous judgement, Zondo said it was accepted that Walus had a low chance of reoffending, and also noted that Walus had apologised to Hani’s family “more than once”.
Zondo seta aside Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola’s March 2020 decision to reject the parole application from Walus.
A letter addressed to Walus and a certificate of exemption has also been forwarded to Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola to be delivered to Walus.
“The letter set out the exceptional circumstances requiring the granting of the exemption which, inter alia, include the fact that it would be in the interests of justice that Mr Walus serves his sentence to the fullest, including parole in the Republic of South Africa.”
Source: Mail & Guardian, IOL, News24, The Citizen, image from Twitter: @kimheller3