Janusz Waluś is to come to Poland. His crime shocked South Africa Photo. Maciej Luczniewski/REPORTER
Tip the author
Tip the author
As we reported in November 2022, a court in South Africa decided that Janusz Waluś would be released conditionally. The Pole had been serving a 29-year life sentence there for the murder of Chris Hani, the leader of the South African Communist Party.
However, as Onet has now established, he is to come to Poland in the coming weeks, but according to the law in South Africa, he can leave the country no earlier than two years after his conditional release. This deadline is now passing.
The portal asked the Polish consulate of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria about him. “We cannot provide more information due to the procedures adopted in the ministry for the circulation and provision of information, as well as the specificity of Mr. Janusz Waluś’s situation, including his personal safety” – was provided to Onet in a response signed by Robert Rusiecki, head of the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria .
Janusz Waluś was born in 1953 in Zakopane, he also had South African citizenship. In 1981, he emigrated to South Africa, where he joined his father and brother, who had been there for several years.
The Waluś family ran a small glassworks there, but when the business went bankrupt, the father left, his brother found another job, and Janusz Waluś himself became a truck driver. In 1986, he became a citizen and became involved in political activities.
Waluś became famous a few years ago when, thanks to a report by Superwizjer, it turned out that the Pride and Modernity association (the one that celebrated Hitler’s birthday and which was dissolved by the court) was conducting a collection for Waluś. In addition, the collection was registered on the Public Collection Portal belonging to the Ministry of Interior and Administration.
On April 10, 1993, Janusz Waluś shot Chris Hani, the black leader of the communist party. He did it in front of his own house. As a result, 1.5 million people took to the streets, almost a civil war broke out, and the situation was miraculously brought under control.
The Pole became a synonym for apartheid, racism and terrorism there. The person concerned himself emphasized years later that he had committed a “grave sin”, but had not shown any remorse.
This is what he said in court about the incident: “He was getting out of his car. I put the Z88 pistol in the belt at the back of my pants and approached him. I didn’t want to shoot him in the back, so I called out: Mister Hania. He turned around and I pulled out the gun and shot him When he fell over, I shot him a second time. This time, when he fell to the ground, I fired two more shots at his temple. I then got into the car and drove away as fast as I could it was possible.”
Read also:
Right, let’s have a look at this then. Janusz Waluś, the bloke who bumped off Chris Hani, is coming back to Poland. Now, I don’t know about you, but I always thought South Africa was a bit rough around the edges, but apparently, they’re letting murderers pop off to Eastern Europe for a bit of pierogi and vodka.
Waluś, eh? Sounds like a bloke who wouldn’t say no to a good steak. Except, of course, he’s a veggie now, innit? Because, you know, karma. Turns out shooting a prominent communist leader in cold blood doesn’t exactly make you popular at the veggie barbecue.
He’s been banging on about "grave sin" this and "no remorse" that, but somehow I don’t think the South African government are going to be sending him a graduation certificate in repentance any time soon. More like a one-way ticket to Krakow, where he can blend in with the crowds, possibly while wearing a very, very large hat.
And the Polish consulate? Tight-lipped as a teenager on prom night. Safety concerns, they’re bleating. Hope they’ve got a good iron bar arrangement at the embassy. I wouldn’t want to be the bloke delivering his takeaway.
You see, this is the thing about history, innit? Doesn’t matter how far you run, it always catches up to you. Like a toddler with a dirty nappy. And Janusz, my friend, you stink.
Oh, and the bit about the Pride and Modernity lot collecting for him? Classic! Makes you wonder if they were planning to
build a statue of him outside Tesco. "Waluś: He loved sausages…and shooting communists."
Anyway, keep your eyes peeled, Poland. A very special guest is coming to town. And bring your own body armor. You never know what might happen when a bloke with a Z88 and a grudge comes knocking.
taps microphone
Is this thing on?
How did the South African public react to Janusz Waluś’s release and return to Poland?
## Interview
**Host:** Joining us tonight is Dr. Anna Nowak, an expert on South African history and politics. Welcome to the show, Dr. Nowak.
Dr. Nowak: Thank you for having me.
**Host:** We’ve been following the news of Janusz Waluś, the man convicted of murdering Chris Hani, and his imminent return to Poland. Can you give our viewers some context on this case?
**Dr. Nowak:** Certainly. Janusz Waluś, a Polish immigrant living in South Africa at the time, assassinated Chris Hani, a prominent leader of the South African Communist Party and a key figure in the fight against apartheid, in 1993. This act sparked widespread unrest and nearly destabilized the fragile transition to democracy South Africa was undergoing.
**Host**: The political climate in South Africa then was incredibly tense.
**Dr. Nowak**: Absolutely. Hani’s assassination came at a crucial moment, just as negotiations towards ending apartheid were underway. His death fueled racial tensions and threatened to derail the peace process.
**Host**: Waluś was sentenced to life in prison. What led to his release and impending return to Poland?
**Dr. Nowak**: After serving nearly three decades, Waluś was granted conditional release by a South African court in 2022. While he was eligible for parole due to his time served, there was much debate and public outcry surrounding the decision. As for his return to Poland, it appears to be within the scope of his parole conditions, allowing him to leave South Africa after surpassing the required two-year period.
**Host**: This is understandably a sensitive issue, especially in South Africa. How has this news been received there?
**Dr. Nowak**: Reactions have been mixed. Some South Africans express relief that Waluś will be leaving the country, while others express deep anger and pain, feeling justice hasn’t been served. This remains a highly charged topic, evoking strong emotions and reminding South Africans of a tumultuous period in their history.
**Host**: Thank you, Dr. Nowak, for shedding light on this complex situation. We appreciate your insight.
**Dr. Nowak**: My pleasure.
