MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus. File picture: Karen Sandison/African News Agency (ANA)
THE UMKHONTO we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) has accused the ANC of colluding and being part of the plot to assassinate former SACP and ANC leader Chris Hani.
Hani was killed in April 1993 outside his Boksburg home by soon-to-be paroled murderer Janusz Walus with the help of former political leader Clive Derby-Lewis, who supplied the weapons for Hani's killing.
Walus, who has spent 28 years serving time in jail for the murder, was on Monday granted parole by the Constitutional Court in a unanimous judgment delivered by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
This ruling has angered Hani's widow as well as the SACP, the EFF, and now the military veterans that Hani led while in exile.
It is expected that Walus will become a free man in the next week or so after Zondo gave Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola 10 days to free him.
On Tuesday, in a statement, MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus slammed the judgment, adding that this was a betrayal of the country's hard-won democracy, which Hani died fighting for.
"As the MKMVA, we have no doubt whatsoever that comrade Chris Hani was not only assassinated by two individual right-wingers - Clive Derby-Lewis and Janusz Walus - acting in isolation. No! It was indeed much bigger and intricate, a carefully worked out assassination plot. We know in our heart of hearts that the very senior leaders within the national democratic revolution were intimately involved in the formulation and execution of that evil plan," Niehaus said in the statement.
The military wing of the ANC said Hani was killed for his strong condemnation of the negotiated settlement during Codesa talks, which he refused to endorse.
"Comrade Chris Hani spoke out against the sellout arrangements that were negotiated at Codesa. He felt compelled to speak and warn our people of the great criminal betrayal that was being perpetrated against them. It was exactly because of his principled refusal to remain quiet and not become complicit that made him to be killed," Niehaus said.
In the past, Niehaus has made similar allegations, saying that even though he does not have conclusive proof of these allegations, he suspects counter-revolutionary forces within the ruling party colluded with the enemy to kill Hani and destabilise the ruling party.
Just this past week, former president Jacob Zuma accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of working with the CIA and of being a spy.
The former ANC spokesperson said Monday's ruling to grant Walus parole was the “second killing” of Chris Hani and brought sharp suffering to his widow and family, who are still suffering due to the murder.
"What Chief Justice Zondo did yesterday, to try and justify the ultimate betrayal of comrade Chris Hani ... is truly inconsiderate and evil," he said.
Attempts were made to get comment from ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe regarding Niehaus’ allegations, however, no comment was received by the time of publication.