Overview

• Janusz Walus, a Polish far-right extremist, was convicted of murdering anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani in 1993, a killing that nearly derailed South Africa's democratic transition.
• Walus, 71, spent over 28 years in South African prison and was released on parole in 2022 following a Constitutional Court ruling, despite widespread opposition to his release.
• The South African government announced his deportation to Poland after his parole ended, with Poland covering all deportation costs.
• Hani's widow and political groups, including the ANC and the South African Communist Party, criticized the decision, citing Walus's lack of remorse and unanswered questions about the assassination's broader conspiracy.
• Chris Hani, a revered anti-apartheid figure and leader in both the ANC and the South African Communist Party, is remembered annually for his contributions to the fight for freedom and equality.