My husband is finally free,” Gaye Derby-Lewis said announcing the death of her husband Clive who served prison time for the death of struggle hero Chris Hani.

"He was under house arrest for 18 months. My husband is finally free," she said.

Derby-Lewis said her husband died a little before 13:00 at Eugene Murray hospital in Pretoria.

Derby-Lewis was on medical parole suffering from lung cancer.

Derby-Lewis, aged 80, was serving a life sentence for the 1993 murder of SA Communist Party leader, Hani.

"Over the last week he was in hospital again. He was home for 18 months and he developed an infection.

"He lost his breath it was quick."

Gaye Derby-Lewis seemed calm while speaking to News24.

When asked how she was feeling she said: "Who copes when it comes to a funeral? It's dreadful, it's hideous".

Department of Justice spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said its office was informed of his death an hour after his passing.

"The death of any human being is unfortunate reality," Mhanga said.