Hundreds march in Pretoria to protest parole for Janusz Walus

There have been angry reactions to a Pretoria Court’s ruling last week granting parole to Janusz Walus, the killer of South African anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani.

Hundreds of protesters mainly from the African National Congress (ANC) party and South African Communist Party (SACP) on Monday marched to the constitutional court in Pretoria which granted Walus the parole.

#HaniMarch Limpho Hani and MbalulaFikile are leading the crowd to hand over the memorandum. EC pic.twitter.com/6fvZD0zXW9

— EWN Reporter (ewnreporter) March 14, 2016

In his recent parole application in the North Gauteng High Court, Walus’ lawyer argued that he should be freed because South Africans believed in Ubuntu.

The ANC has however described the court’s ruling as a travesty of justice and a tragedy to the Hani family, reported the BBC.

The SACP, according to South African broadcaster, SABC, has come out saying it firmly supports the call for an appeal against an extremely controversial and highly compromised judgment.

Chris Hani’s widow, Limpho Hani who joined the protest march told the media she “cannot forgive without knowing the truth”.

“I cannot forgive without knowing the truth”: Limpho #Hani |https://t.co/iJKpdxKNyx#HaniMarch pic.twitter.com/7c4yH5XkuR

— The_New_Age (@The_New_Age) March 14, 2016

“It was quite interesting for a white judge in this country to say to me that I should forget and move on, that is why I called her a racist. I take my husband’s cold murder like a holocaust so she has no right,” said Hani’s widow.

South Africa’s Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula who addressed the crowd outside the court attributed the country’s current freedom to the death of Chris Hani.

Comrade Chris Hani's blood nourished our freedom and democracy. Release of his killers is insensitive IOL pic.twitter.com/WkXsnV5RTd

— RSA Min of Sport (MbalulaFikile) March 14, 2016

Janusz Walus, a Polish national, immigrated to South Africa in 1981 and later got more involved in far right politics, supporting the apartheid regime.

According to his lawyer, this 63-year-old who now has South African nationality is remorseful about the crime he committed.

On April 10, 1993, Walus shot Chris Hani, who was chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress.

Walus is expected to be released on parole in 2 weeks time.