Janusz Walus. File picture: Reuters
HOME Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has granted Janusz Walus the rights of permanent residence for the parole period and conditions to be imposed by the Justice and Correctional Services minister.
“The minister granted the exemption in order for Mr Walus to serve his parole period in South Africa and the exemption contains a condition that Mr Walus may not use any travel document and/or passport issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland,” said a department statement.
A letter addressed to Walus and a certificate of exemption have been forwarded to Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola to be delivered to Walus.
“The letter set out the exceptional circumstances requiring the granting of the exemption which, inter alia, include the fact that it would be in the interests of justice that Mr Walus serves his sentence to the fullest, including parole in the Republic of South Africa.
“The minister notes the media speculation that Mr Walus would serve his parole period in the Republic of Poland. In light of the exemption issued by the Minister, this speculation cannot be correct and the Department of Home Affairs would not be involved in any deportation process of Mr Walus to the Republic of Poland,” added the statement.
The statement said that the department’s stance on Walus was that he must serve his parole period in South Africa as part of his sentence.
“It is clear from the media reports that the Embassy of the Republic of Poland believes that if Walus is deported to Poland he won’t serve any parole in the Republic of Poland because the Constitutional Court judgment is not binding on that country.
“The Minister of Home Affairs further believes that the heinous crime committed to the people of South Africa by murdering one of the icons of the liberation Struggle makes it obligatory that Mr Walus must serve his parole period as part of sentence in the Republic of South Africa,” reads the department statement.