Strong opposition for Chris Hani's murderer parole application

By Ofentse Mokae
23 June 2010

The parole application of one of former South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani’s killer, Clive Derby-Lewis has been met with a lot of opposition from various political groups.

This morning the SACP announced their strong opposition to the application in Pretoria today.

The party’s Malesela Maleka says Derby-Lewis deserves to "rot in jail".

The Democratic Alliance said it was inappropriate that he be considered for parole.

DA spokesperson on Correctional Services James Selfe says whilst it is true that in terms of legislation he is entitled to a parole hearing after serving 15 years in prison the vast majority of inmates with life sentences wait 25 years before being considered for parole.

“The case should be considered in the light of Mr Derby-Lewis’s crimes, which were particularly heinous and very nearly brought South Africa to the brink of a civil war,” Selfe said.

Selfe adds that the parole should only be considered until he has served a substantially longer sentence.

Derby-Lewis was convicted for his part in the murder of the SACP's general secretary in 1993.

His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment when the death sentence was abolished.

His last application for parole was dismissed by the High Court in Pretoria in March last year.