Fees Must Fall activist, Bonginkosi Khanyile, 31, appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning, after he was arrested and charged for incitement to commit public violence as well as Contravention of the Disaster Management Act.
Khanyile was arrested on Friday by the Hawks for allegedly inciting public violence linked to the #FreeJacobZuma campaign and the unrests that broke out in July. Democratic Alliance (DA) Provincial Chairperson, Dean Macpherson, said it’s good to see police making arrests of those linked to the July looting and unrests which cost the country billions of rands. “Police said there are 12 people who were the ‘masterminds’ behind the unrests, we don’t know if Khanyile is one of them, if he is we are glad that he is behind bars. Khanyile has a strong political link to former President Jacob Zuma, and we want to see all those behind the looting and unrests behind bars. We know the disruption the #FeesMustFall campaign caused, and if there is a link with the #FreeJacobZuma campaign those responsible for the disruptions and damage should be arrested,” he said.
Family spokesperson, Philani Nduli, said they are sad and heartbroken following the way Khanyile was arrested. “The Hawks arrested a student at his Johannesburg res’ like a criminal. He is a student fighting for the rights of others and freedom of speech. The state wants to punish people for talking but is failing to send the Hawks to arrest the politicians who looted billions of rands,” said Nduli. Director of Public Prosecutions Spokesperson, Natasha Kara, said: “These relate to incidences of looting and public violence that occurred in KwaZulu-Natal in mid-July. Khanyile also faces a charge of incitement to commit public violence as well as charges of Contravention of the Disaster Management Act.” The matter was postponed to Thursday, 26 August, for a formal bail application.
