SCA overturns Janusz Walus’ parole

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has overturned a high court decision last year granting parole to Janusz Walus, the convicted killer of SACP leader Chris Hani.

The appeals court, based in Bloemfontein, on Friday gave Justice Minister Michael Masutha 90 days to reconsider whether Walus should be released on parole. The court also ordered the minister to file additional documents explaining why he did not consider a victim impact statement from the Hani family.

Masutha appealed a ruling by the Pretoria High Court in April last year that ordered the release of the Polish immigrant.

Hani was shot and killed by Walus on Easter Sunday, 10 April, 1993. Walus was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in October 1993, but this was later commuted to life imprisonment.

His co-conspirator in the murder of Hani, Clive Derby-Lewis, died last year from cancer, just a few months after his release on parole.