Still mystery around Hani's death

FOR some reason, 20 years after his death, I remembered vividly the story about Chris Hani's death as covered by Rapport newspaper at the time. According to the story, on the day of Hani's death he was supposed to have an interview with the Rapport journalist, whose name I cannot remember.

The journalist goes on to describe how sad he was that Hani had died.

He went on to say that he was supposed to have had an interview with Hani on the Saturday of his death.

He also explains how the killer, Janus Walusz, would have driven around the block in Hani's vicinity.

What I find odd is that the journalist knew Hani would not have his bodyguards around as they were going to be off duty on that fateful day, according to the journalist. This is mentioned in the article he wrote.

How else does one explain the fact that Hani was killed in front of his house on his way from buying a newspaper on such a quiet day when, ironically, his bodyguards were off duty?

The questions I beg to ask are:

• How did the killer know Hani would not have his bodyguards around on that particular day?

• If he knew, who told him so?

• If he did not know, could Hani's killing have been a pure coincidence and not part of the broader plot to kill Hani?

• Of all the other days marking Hani's busy schedule, with him always being surrounded by his bodyguards, why was this day chosen when the guards would not be around?

• Was Hani so naive that he contravened his own security protocol to announce to someone else – the journalist – that his bodyguards would not work on the day of his death and thus had his trust in others as a result sadly betrayed?

In other words, did he trust certain people to the extent that he did not mind to tell them that he would be home alone on his fateful day?

• Did he and the Rapport journalist have previous appointments to meet and as such, had gradually developed a trust relationship?

• Can the journalist possibly shed more light on this?

• Was Hani set up to be eliminated?

• Are there more people out there who should be joining the killers of Hani in jail?

• Can Rapport perhaps place that article again?

I have a strong sense that the possible parole for Clive Derby-Lewis and Walusz would be premature in the light of the above and justice would not have been served. Newly appointed Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha and the National Prosecuting Authority would do well to consider an urgent investigation into the above, using the story in the Rapport as a source.

J Horn, Port Elizabeth