The family of late anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani has expressed deep disappointment in the African National Congress (ANC)-controlled government following the parole and deportation of his assassin, Janusz Waluś. The family describes it as a tragic irony, given that Hani dedicated his life and ultimately sacrificed himself for the very party that has now allowed his killer to walk free.
On Thursday, commemorations marked exactly 32 years since the assassination of Hani, who was a prominent figure in both the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the ANC. An official memorial event was held by the SACP and government officials in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, where Hani grew up.
Reflecting on his early life, the family shared memories of Hani as a respectful village boy raised by grandparents who had hoped he would become a pastor rather than a politician.
Janusz Waluś, who assassinated Hani outside his home in Boksburg in 1993, served 29 years in a South African prison before being released on parole last year and deported to his native Poland.
Hani’s daughter, Lindiwe, has reiterated the family’s ongoing demand for a comprehensive inquest into her father’s death:
“It is heartbreaking that the party my father died fighting for is now responsible for his killer returning home freely. While nothing can bring my father back, an inquest will help us understand what truly happened and reveal who else was involved. It would bring much-needed closure and healing to our family.”
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has assured the family and public that preparations for an official inquest into Hani’s assassination are currently underway.
