The EFF says killing of Chris Hani was tantamount to treason
|Published
African National Congress (ANC) party supporter holds a poster of Communist Party leader Chris Hani as South African President Nelson Mandela addresses thousands of people April 11 during a memorial service for Hani, whose killing six years ago nearly plunged the nation into civil war. Picture: Juda Ngwenya/REUTERS
Johannesburg – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have condemned the release of Janusz Waluś, the Polish hitman and killer of iconic liberation stalwart Chris Hani, saying the murder was treasonous and that he has shown no remorse to this day.
“He has not divulged the identities of the people he worked with, and he is likely to pursue destructive right-wing ideas once released," said the EFF.
The EFF also highlighted the country’s constitutional democracy, which it said could be easily manipulated by racists and white supremacists.
“A rigid interpretation of the law without regard to the context within which the laws were made and are to be interpreted will soon push this country over the cliff,” said the EFF.
Hitting out at the judiciary once again, the party said Waluś’ release was a marker of a right-wing turn that should concern South Africans.
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) president Zizamele Cebekhulu-Makhaza said that the country is burning because of decisions made by the judiciary while the executive sits back and watches.
“This cannot continue. The executive is meant to represent the public opinion, and I strongly believe that government needs to apply for a rescission of this judgement,” she said
Makhaza said her union would stand together with COSATU and the SACP to fight the decision, also pleading with Constitutional Court Chief Justice Judge Raymond Zondo to consider how many years Hani successfully evaded multiple threats on his life and arrests during apartheid, only for his life to be taken mercilessly during the dawn of this country’s democracy.
“Judge Zondo would not hold his position if not for sacrifices made by freedom fighters like Hani. He would not have been able to become a black constitutional judge if not for Hani and several other freedom fighters.
“This decision will be justified using the confines of the law, but a parallel to the law books are human rights. I appeal to Zondo to look at this case from a human rights perspective and consider the damage these extremists have perpetrated,” she said.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Hani family have filed papers with the Constitutional Court to reconsider and rescind it.
“In addition, we have filed papers with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights as part of the legal avenues available to us in seeking justice and equal access to courts,” said the SACP.
The Communist Party said that, together with their allies and other interested South Africans, we will also continue with our programme of mass mobilisation.
“We will not be deterred. We are continuing with our 135-day programme of action up to April 10, 2023, the 30th anniversary of the commemoration of Chris Hani,” they said.
The Star