Media Reports of Parole Board Recommendations for Clive Derby-Lewis to be Released from Prison

The SACP has noted media reports that the Parole Board has recommended the release of Clive Derby-Lewis on medical parole, which is a serious concern to us as the SACP, the Alliance and the Hani family. We have listened to the statements made by the lawyer of Derby-Lewis, which continue to ignore our submission and the fact that Derby-Lewis and other racist groups, some of whom marched in Tshwane last year, do not show any signs of remorse.

The SACP wishes to reiterate the fundamental principle that true reconciliation and forgiveness depends first and foremost at least on full disclosure of the truth, as well as remorse.

We would remind everyone that to Clive Derby-Lewis was denied amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) because he did not fulfil the requirements and criteria to be given amnesty. Unrepentant, Derby-Lewis actually claimed that his Christian faith within the Afrikaans Protestant Church was central to his decision to participate in Hani's assassination, while stating that this was sanctioned by senior leaders of the Conservative Party, whose names, by the way, were never, up to this day, disclosed.

To us as the SACP the matter on the assassination of Comrade Chris Hani is not closed, and that will remain the case until justice is realised, no matter how an individual or a grouping feels emotionally at a particular point in time. The SACP, standing firm on this ground, has made it clear that its unchanged stance on this principle is located within the confines of the law, associated regulations and processes. And as such we are consulting our legal team to guide us on what other steps are available to continue with this fight of getting to the bottom of the killing of our former General Secretary.

The SACP view is that it is extremely wrong to continue forcing victims to forgive and forget, while the murderers are uncritically treated as if they are holy. The basis for forgiveness and reconciliation, even for the TRC, was, in addition to other principles, and most importantly, a full disclosure of the truth.

There have been problematic statements and actions displayed by some racist groupings last year marching in Tshwane and the recent statement by the wife of Clive Derby-Lewis citing violence towards Cde Limpho Hani and the SACP.

We are awaiting the decision of the Minister and we are positive that he will make a correct decision in defence of the democracy that cde Chris and many others died for during the struggle for liberation.

Statement issued by the South African Communist Party, January 27 2015

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