Chris Hani, a key figure in South Africa’s fight against apartheid, was assassinated on 10 April 1993. Decades later, his words continue to inspire and guide discussions on justice, equality, and activism.
Who killed Chris Hani?
Chris Hani was assassinated by Janusz Waluś, a Polish immigrant and anti-communist, who collaborated with Clive Derby-Lewis, a senior South African Conservative Party MP.
The murder was politically motivated, intended to destabilise the fragile negotiations to end apartheid.
Waluś shot Hani in the driveway of his home in Boksburg, Johannesburg, leading to widespread riots and international condemnation.
Janusz Walus, after spending more than two decades in prison for the assassination of struggle icon Chris Hani, was granted parole in a landmark Constitutional Court ruling handed down on Monday, 21 November 2022.
The apex court granted Walus conditional release on his fifth attempt at parole.
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who delivered the ruling, criticised Justice Minister Ronald Lamola’s decision to refuse the Polish assassin parole in 2020.
“The minister’s decision was irrational, falls to be reviewed and must be set aside,” Zondo ruled.
Walus has since returned to his home country, Poland, and lives as a free man. In a disturbing interview with investigative journalist Annika Larsen in January 2025,
Walus, now 71, expressed unapologetic white supremacist views and admitted to manipulating the legal system to secure his release.
In the interview, Walus said he believes that black people are “not equipped to rule a country” and described white people as the “superior race.”
While he conceded that black people should have the right to vote, he argued that this should only apply in their “homelands,” echoing apartheid-era policies.
When pressed about his lack of remorse for assassinating Hani in 1993, Walus appeared cold and unapologetic. “I will not beat around the bush,” he stated, justifying his views by referencing historical examples he claimed supported white superiority.
Five facts to know about the struggle icon
- Early Life and Education: Born Martin Thembisile Hani in 1942 in Cofimvaba, Transkei, Hani became politically active at a young age.
- Military Leadership: He rose through the ranks to become the chief of staff of Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
- Anti-Apartheid Campaigns: Hani was instrumental in organising guerrilla campaigns against apartheid and was revered for his commitment to the liberation struggle.
- Vision for South Africa: Beyond his military endeavours, Hani advocated for a non-racial, unified South African society.
- International Influence: His work earned him international recognition and solidarity from those opposing oppression worldwide.
Five Chris Hani quotes that are still relevant in 2024
- “What I fear is that the liberators emerge as elitists… who drive around in Mercedes Benzes and use the resources of this country… to live in palaces and to gather riches.”
- “The perks of a new government are not really appealing to me. Everybody would like to have a good job, a good salary… but for me that is not the all of struggle. What is important is the continuation of the struggle… the real problems of the country are not whether one is in Cabinet… but what we do for social upliftment of the working masses of our country.”
- “Apartheid — both petty and grand — is morally and socially indefensible.”
- “It is not the kings and generals that make history but the masses of the people, the workers, the peasants, the doctors, the intellectuals, who are led by the indomitable spirit of the leaders.”
- “We need to create the pathway to give hope to our youth that they can have the opportunity through education and hard work to escape the trap of poverty.”
