An ex-MK soldier who stood opposed to other inmates joining Janusz Waluś's Constitutional Court bid for parole is said to be the person who stabbed him.
The inmate was angry that the group sided with Chris Hani's killer, saying that they could not be on the same side with the person that killed their comrade.
The man is serving a life sentence after he was convicted of murder.
Sowetan understands that after the incident the man was stabbed by other inmates who came to Waluś's defence.
An inmate who spoke to Sowetan said no-one was happy about the attack on Waluś.
“We are on Waluś's side. That madala [old man, meaning Waluś] was our comrade. That man doesn't get angry, he wouldn't hurt a fly. He spends 20 hours a day in his cell and only comes out to make calls or to go to the gym. We are shocked that he was hurt,” the inmate said.
Waluś was meant to be released from Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre after the Constitutional Court ordered justice and correctional services minister Ronald Lamola to release Waluś within 10 days.
The order was made last Monday with the 10-day period falling today (Wednesday).
Waluś was convicted of the 1993 assassination of the anti-apartheid activist and SA Communist Party general secretary.
The inmate was one of the people who had joined in Waluś's ConCourt application to be released on parole.
“He objected to us joining Waluś's matter [parole application]. He would say, he [Waluś] killed our comrade [Hani]. He felt that we were betraying him [Hani] by joining Waluś,” the inmate said.
An insider at the prison confirmed to Sowetan that Waluś's attacker was stabbed in the hand shortly after attempting to kill the Poland-born immigrant.
“The attack happened as the inmates were waiting to get their food in the passage. He was stabbed in the hand by other inmates protecting Waluś because he is liked by other prisoners
“He [Waluś] was stabbed on the left side of his chest, meaning he wanted to kill him,” the insider said.
A second prisoner speaking to Sowetan on condition of anonymity also confirmed the stabber was a former soldier.
Department of correctional services (DCS) spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that “an unfortunate stabbing” involving Waluś happened.
“A detailed incident report is to be provided at a later stage, but what can be stated at this point is that inmate Waluś is stable and DCS healthcare officials are providing the necessary care. It is alleged that Waluś was stabbed by another inmate from the same housing unit. Stabbing and other forms of disturbances are offences not warranted in a correctional environment and this case will be investigated.”
One insider said: “Janusz Waluś was stabbed. How bad, I don't have the details. They took him to hospital which was confirmed by a member of EST [emergency support team].
“He was stabbed in his section of the prison. The guy who stabbed him is a former soldier who is also a lifer like Waluś,” the insider said.
On Monday, home affairs minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said Waluś would not be deported, saying he had been granted an exemption to serve out his parole in SA.
Motsoaledi said the exemption was granted in 2020 during Waluś's previous attempts at being granted parole.
The insider continued: “I was with Janusz today and I asked him why did he accept the citizenship spoken of by the minister. He told me he never accepted it, he's being forced to stay here and that he wants to go home back to Poland.”
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