Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson on Correctional Services James Selfe says while the DA would want to extend its condolences to the family of Clive Derby-Lewis, the country should not forget to reflect how he almost plunged the country into civil war.

Selfe was reacting to the news of the death of Derby-Lewis who lost his battle against cancer in the Eugene Marais Hospital in Pretoria on Thursday.

Derby-Lewis was convicted of conspiracy to murder South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Chris Hani in 1993.

He was released last year in May on medical parole. Selfe reflects on Derby-Lewis and lessons learnt.

“Mr Derby Lewis was an extremely controversial political figure who drove South Africa nearly to the brink of civil war through his actions. And I think it is moments like this that all South Africans reflect on our constitutional values of peace and democracy and that I hope is the lesson that we learnt from the Derby Lewis saga.”