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2016-04-20 05:29
Karabo Ngoepe, News24
MK veterans outside the Western Cape High Court. (Tammy Petersen, News24)
Pretoria – The South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Minister of Justice will on Wednesday oppose the petition to release Chris Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus.
Minister Michael Masutha’s spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, told News24 they would oppose the application.
SACP spokesperson, Alex Mashilo, indicated they would also oppose the move.
“We will oppose that petition. The North Gauteng High Court dismissed our leave to appeal its decision so in terms of the legal process, we are petitioning the Supreme Court of Appeal to hear our appeal.
"The process is not yet over and he cannot be released until the outcome of that process are completed,” said Mashilo.
Not remorseful
Judge Nicolene Janse van Nieuwenhuizen dismissed government's bid to appeal her ruling that Walus could be released on parole. Masutha applied for leave to appeal the ruling, just two days after the 23rd anniversary of the SACP leader's assassination.
Walus, a Polish immigrant, shot Hani dead in the driveway of his Boksburg home on April 10 1993.
Mashilo said the SACP believed Walus was not remorseful and had not understood the magnitude of the crime he had committed.
“The primary reason we oppose his release is that he remains an unrepentant murderer who is unremorseful and has no regard for the enormity of the crime he committed," he said.
"One of the reasons he gave for murdering Chris Hani was that Chris was a communist and he hated communism. In his current psychological report it is stated that he has a good psychiatrist but his hatred for communism has not been cured and that is the reason he killed. The man remains unchanged,” said Mashilo.