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Convicted killer of S. African communist party leader rejected medical parole

Xinhua, January 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Michael Masutha rejected on Friday the application for the release on medical parole of Clive Derby-Lewis, who killed Chris Hani, former South African Communist Party (SACP) Secretary General.

"Our country is a constitutional democracy which is governed by the rule of law. Therefore, in reaching my decision, I have taken into account the relevant laws and prescripts that regulate the medical parole process," Masutha said in the ruling.

Derby-Lewis killed Hani in April 1993, one year before the first national democratic election which brought apartheid to an end. The murder attracted much publicity at home and abroad.

The offender, who was sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction of murder, was found to be suffering from lung cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.

On July 9, 2014 his application for placement on medical parole was considered by the Medical Parole Advisory Board.

The Board then made a recommendation that Masutha should place the offender on medical parole.

"I have now considered the offender's application. In making my decision, I took into account the applicable legislation, recommendations made by the Board as well as the submission made by Mrs Hani and the SACP," Masutha said.

"In the circumstances, the Board's recommendation to place the offender on medical parole is not approved. This decision will be communicated to his (Derby-Lewis') legal representative as required by the court order."

The decision not to grant medical parole to Derby-Lewis was welcomed by the SACP.

"As the SACP we wish to reiterate our position that there is nothing which will divert us from our stand-point to fight against any form of manipulating of the law towards the release of Clive Derby-Lewis. He should remain in prison, as he remains a danger to the reconciliation projects that our country so desperately yearns for," said SACP acting national spokesperson Mhlekwa Nxumalo.

Reconciliation is not a one-way street to the benefit of the perpetrators like Clive Derby-Lewis only, while the victims like the Hani family and the SACP are unfairly pressed to forgive the injustices that they have suffered, he said.

He said the SACP is appealing to all South Africans to "embrace the spirit of true reconciliation through supporting the decision made by the Minister on this matter." Endi