Authorities announced on Tuesday that Janusz Walus, the man responsible for the death of South African anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani over three decades ago, was stabbed in prison and is currently being treated.
This week, the South African Constitutional Court granted parole to Walus, a 69-year-old Polish national who was about to be released. Protests and harsh condemnation of the decision could be heard across the country.
“Inmate Walus is stable and DCS healthcare officials are providing the necessary care,” the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said in a statement.
The agency said that another prisoner from the same housing unit was responsible for stabbing him, but it gave no more information about the incident or the person who did it.
In 1993, Walus shot Hani outside the home of the anti-apartheid activist, who was a senior member of the then-ruling African National Congress and the head of the South African Communist Party at the time.
After decades of white minority rule under apartheid, his death sparked widespread unrest that put South Africa’s transition to multiracial democracy in jeopardy.
In 1981, he left the then-communist Poland and settled in South Africa, where he got involved in far-right activities.
Aaron Motsoaledi, the minister of home affairs of South Africa, gave Walus permission to live there on Monday so that he may complete his parole there.