By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) , South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) picketed outside the Constitutional Court on Saturday in Johannesburg against the court’s decision to release Chris Hani’s assassin,Janusz Walus on parole.
The SACP’s general secretary – Solly Mapaila said releasing Walus from prison will be a form of disrespect to Hani’s family and his legacy.
Mapaila was speaking during a picket at the Constitutional Court on Saturday, following the court’s order on Monday for the release of Walus on parole.
Waluś was convicted in 1993 for murdering former SACP leader and liberation struggle icon, Chris Hani.
In a unanimous judgment, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said in weighing the history of administrative decision-making on Waluś’s repeated failed attempts to secure parole, he was deeply mindful of the severity of the crime and the calamity it nearly caused.
However the judgment did not sit well with many and according to Mapaila, the ruling was disrespecting South Africans who fought against apartheid.
“This democracy just appoints everyone to be a judge and we are getting enough of being disrespected.
With great respect to Chief Justice Zondo, this judgment in several respects affirms apartheid-era justice and what is also concerning about this judgment is that it was a unanimous one,” said Mapaila.
He said another most worrying factor was the manner in which judgment was delivered, saying when making judgments, the judiciary must not abuse its powers.
Mapaila said theirs is not to condemn the judiciary but to say the judiciary must transform.
He said a letter to the Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola was sent on Friday wherein they outline the steps the SACP and the Hani family intend to take against the ruling, stressing that they do not want Waluś to be released.
“We are also considering taking the matter to the African Courts and the commission of Human and Peoples Rights because the Constitutional Court when they made the ruling, they did not talk to us, its as if we don’t exist, they just disregarded us.
“They [judges] wanted to send a clear message to the ruling ANC, that they will not carry out political instructions but let me tell them whatever they are carrying out are political instructions because politics is the centre of all superstructures,” he said.
Mapaila said it was a criminal assassin’s rights that were considered, but not that of the Hani family.
Gauteng ANC chairperson – Panyaza Lesufi, said although the party respects the Constitutional Court – it does not support its decision to release Chris Hani’s killer from prison.
Lesufi said Walus does not deserve to step outside of prison.
“This Walus must not receive any form of hero welcome. He must know he has angered us and he will never leave that prison in peace.”