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The judgment delivered by the Constitutional Court on Monday, 21 November 2022, is sickeningly disappointing, to say the least. This is how the South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary Solly Mapaila reacted on behalf of the Party to the judgment. "The judgment does not even say anything about the submissions made by the SACP and the Chris Hani family when the court heard this matter", said Mapaila.

The SACP fully supports the family of Chris Hani, who was the General Secretary of the Party when he was assassinated on 10 April 1993. The assassination of Chris Hani left a gaping wound in his family, the SACP and the ranks of the working-class. The judgment has rubbed salt granules to the wound.

Hani was assassinated for being a communist, for leading the struggle for democracy in our country, but the Hani family permanently lost a husband, father, uncle, you name it all.

"Like Hani, we are unapologetic for being communists ourselves", said Mapaila. The judgment has far-reaching implications that compel the SACP to analyse it deeper and look for a new way forward under the circumstances. The reality we now face is that the court failed to protect our right to exist as communists. We will have to protect this right ourselves.

The Constitutional Court ordered the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to place on parole within 10 days Janusz Waluś, the assassin who murdered Chris Hani in cold blood on 10 April 1993.

Issued by The South African Communist Party