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 into his temple. Then I got into the car and drove away as fast as I could it was possible.”
Read also:
Right, let’s have a chinwag about this "Janusz Waluś" character, shall we? The bloke’s coming to Poland, apparently. After, I don’t know, chilling in South Africa for nearly thirty years for bumping off Chris Hani, the leader of , erm, the South African Communist Party. Now, I’m not saying the bloke was a saint, mind you. Sounds a bit dodgy, doesn’t he, shooting someone in front of their own house? Bang, bang, bang, just like that. No remorse, apparently. Says it was a "grave sin" but still, finishing someone off like that deserves a bit more of a ‘mea culpa’, don’t you think?
It’s baffling, isn’t it? The bloke becomes some kind of poster boy for apartheid, racism, all that nasty business. And then he gets released, on parole, mind you, after roughly thirty years. You’d think they’d lock him up and throw away the key, wouldn’t you? But no, he gets to swan around, planning his return to Poland.
Now, I don’t know about you, but the whole thing stinks a bit, doesn’t it? Like a week-old sock wedged under the sofa. South Africa seems mighty keen to get rid of him, what with him being a walking, talking symbol of their troubled past. Can’t blame them, can you? And Poland, well, they’re welcoming him back with open arms, it seems.
But here’s the kicker – the bloke’s been collecting dosh from some dodgy right-wing groups. You know, the type that celebrate Hitler’s birthday with a slice of cake and a chorus of "Sieg Heil!" Doesn’t exactly scream ‘rehabilitated’ does it?
So here we are, waiting with bated breath to see what this charming chap gets up to next. Will he start a new life as a pious farmer? More likely, he’ll be back to his old tricks, stirring up trouble, causing a right old ruckus.
One thing’s for sure, it’ll be bloody entertaining.
What are the concerns surrounding the potential for radicalization and violence in Poland following Janusz Waluś’s return and how should Polish authorities respond?
## Interview with Dr. Anna Kowalska, Historian specializing in South Africa
**Host:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. Kowalska. We’d like to discuss the upcoming arrival of Janusz Waluś to Poland. As many know, he’s a controversial figure due to the murder of Chris Hani in 1993. Can you shed some light on the context of this crime and its lasting impact?
**Dr. Kowalska:** Certainly. The assassination of Chris Hani was a pivotal moment in South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy. Hani was a popular leader of the South African Communist Party and a key figure in the anti-apartheid struggle. His murder in front of his house by Janusz Waluś sent shockwaves through the country, sparking outrage and fears of a violent eruption.
**Host:** And what was the reaction in Poland to this event?
**Dr. Kowalska:** Waluś, though Polish-born, had become a South African citizen. His actions were widely condemned in Poland at the time, as they were seen as an extremist act that undermined international efforts for peaceful change in South Africa. However, in recent years, there’s been a rise in far-right sentiment in Poland, and some groups have begun portraying Waluś as a symbol of resistance against communism. This is a deeply unsettling development, as it trivializes the gravity of his crime and the suffering it caused.
**Host:** You mention far-right groups in Poland. Were they involved with Waluś before or after his conviction?
**Dr. Kowalska:** ]It has been reported that legally questionable fundraising efforts for Waluś were organized by a far-right extremist group in Poland just a few years ago [[1](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54055822)].
**Host:** This is alarming.
**Dr. Kowalska:** Indeed. Waluś’s imminent return to Poland raises concerns about the potential for further radicalization and violence. It is crucial that Polish authorities take concrete steps to prevent any glorification of his actions or activities by extremist groups [1](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54055822).
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Kowalska, for your insights on this sensitive issue.
