YCLSA condemns ill-informed public campaign on Clive Derby Lewis

The Young Communist League of South Africa [uFasimba] condemns in the strongest terms the attempts to run a public campaign by both Gay Lewis and an ill informed section of the media on the basis of perceived leaked recommendations of the Medical Parole Board to the Minister of Correctional Services, Michael Masutha (see report).

The intention of the campaign is to turn a recommendation into a binding decision of the Minister and overlook conditions beyond the medical issue that Derby-Lewis has to fulfil before he is considered for parole by the minister. The campaign makes a grave mistake of thinking that the Board makes the final decision on who qualifies for parole and who does not qualify. Forgetting that the final decision lies with the Minister and the job of the Board is only to make recommendations.

As the YCLSA we remain opposed to the release of Clive Derby-Lewis, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment, on parole. Our view is that he is not showing any remorse whiles he remains unrepentant. If he regrets what he did, he would have divulged all the circumstances and who else was involved directly and indirectly in the assassination of Chris Hani and the writing of the hit list.

As the YCLSA we will continues to also call on President Jacob Zuma to open an inquest into the death of Cde Chris Hani. We continue to hold a strong view that should the inquest not be opened, justice will be denied to the Hani family, the South African Communist Party [SACP], the working class and our entire society.

To find closure it is very imperative for the family, the SACP, the working class and all members of our society to know what led to killing of Chris Hani, a husband, father and a selfless revolutionary who gallantly fought the apartheid regime and economic exploitation.

As we intensifying our campaign we will make written submission to both President Zuma and Minister Masutha. As the YCLSA will not hesitate to take the matter further should that avenue fail. There sphere of political struggle remains open for us to intensify our campaign; the struggle continues

Statement issued by Khaya Xaba, YCLSA National Spokesperson, January 27 2015

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