Pretoria - Chris Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus, was yesterday still recovering in hospital at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria after being attacked on Tuesday afternoon by a fellow inmate.
Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo told the Pretoria News: “He remains in a stable condition.”
While it is not yet known when he will be released from hospital or be freed on parole in accordance with the Constitutional Court ruling, his medical condition may delay his release.
His lawyer, Julian Knight, previously told the media that according to his calculations, Walus should be released today.
Walus was rushed to the prison hospital following the stabbing. Nxumalo at the time confirmed the “unfortunate stabbing incident” and said a detailed incident report would be provided at a later stage.
He added that Walus was receiving the necessary care, while the incident was being investigated.
The Constitutional Court last week week gave Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola 10 days from the Constitutional Court’s order in which to release him. If weekends are counted, the 10 days lapse today.
In overturning Lamola’s earlier order in not granting parole to Walus, the Concourt left it up to the minister to stipulate the conditions under which Walus should be released on parole.
In terms of the law, the minister is responsible for setting the conditions for prisoners who are serving a life term and who are due to be released on parole.
While it is also not yet known how long Walus will have to adhere to his parole conditions, it is expected to be around two years. But the minister will also have to state this when he sets out the parole conditions.
Home Affairs said this week that Walus should serve his parole to the “fullest” in South Africa and granted him an exemption in terms of the Immigration Act to serve his parole in the country.
Walus earlier expressed his hope to return to his country of origin, Poland, following his release on parole.
SACP and ANC members march to the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility to protest against the release of Chris Hani's killer Janusz Walus on parole. @SACP1921 @GautengANC #JanuszWalus pic.twitter.com/inOZFEJJhN
— Pretoria News (@pretorianews) November 30, 2022
The SACP meanwhile said it would file papers with the Constitutional Court asking for the judgment regarding the granting of parole for Walus to be rescinded. It also said that the party and the Hani family would ask the court for a stay of the order pending the rescission application.
The SACP and the Hani family are aggrieved that the Constitutional Court did not deal with their submissions as to why Walus should not be released.
He has spend nearly three decades behind bars following the April 1993 murder of SACP leader Hani.
Knight has not yet responded to questions by the Pretoria News regarding the application against his client’s release.
Knight has been waging a legal fight for Walus’ release for years, with several applications before the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. Walus’ first bid to be released on parole was made in 2012. While the department’s parole board on each occasion found him a suitable candidate for parole, the various justice ministers over the years refused parole for a variety of reasons.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, in his judgment, remarked that in terms of the law, Walus was eligible for parole in 2005.
Pretoria News