Chris Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus, has been stabbed by an inmate in prison, days before he was due to be released on parole.
Also read: Janusz Walus: Chris Hani assassin to be released on parole
According to the Department of Correctional Services, Walus is in a stable condition following the stabbing on Tuesday.
“A detailed incident report is to be provided at a later stage, but what can be stated at this point is that inmate Walus is stable and DCS healthcare officials are providing the necessary care,” said Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo, confirming that Walus was stabbed by an inmate.
He added that the incident would be investigated as stabbings and other forms of disturbances are offences not warranted in a correctional environment.
Walus was convicted of murdering Hani in 1993 and was due to be released tomorrow following a Constitutional Court order last week.
On Monday, Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that he had granted an exemption for Walus to remain in South Africa and serve his parole in the country.
The minister said in a statement that the exemption contained a condition that Walus may not use any travel document or passport issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland to return to the country of his origin.
Speaking to Radio 702 earlier this week, Walus’s lawyer, Julian Knight, said that the decision was unfair and that Motsoaledi was acting unlawfully as other criminals who were released on parole without status in the country, were deported.
The murderer’s imminent release from prison has angered many in South Africa, including the Hani family, the ANC, SACP, Cosatu and the EFF.
On Saturday, the ANC-led tripartite alliance picketed against the constitutional court ruling, and there was a demonstration planned for Pretoria today.
Last week, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo ordered Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola to take all the necessary steps to place Walus on parole within ten days.
In his judgement, Zondo said that the minister’s decision to refuse parole to Walus was irrational and should be set aside.
Waluz was initially sentenced to death, with the judge at the time saying that the cold-blooded murder of a prominent person had the potential to have far-reaching consequences for the country and could have plunged it into civil war. Zondo added that the murder had been well planned over a period of weeks.
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