FeesMustFall activist, Bonginkosi Khanyile, has been arrested in Kwazulu-Natal by the Hawks in relation to the recent looting unrest we saw happen in the province and Gauteng.
Khanyile is reported to be charged with inciting public violence during the looting of businesses which saw a number of businesses in KZN destroyed and looted.
The FeesMustFall activist Spokesperson, Philani Nduli, has confirmed that Khanyile’s arrest was in connection with the #FreeJacobZuma campaign in July.
We are taken aback you know; we are flabbergasted, we are dumb-founded and angered as the family and as comrades of Bonginkosi Khanyile. We believe this arrest is an attempt to silence all those who are speaking against the injustices that are done against Jacob Zuma.
Khanyile’s Spokesperson, Nduli, also said the FeesMustFall activist is in good spirit while in jail but concerned by his arrest.
It's believed that he is no stranger to arrest for violence in protest related incidents.
Khanyile spent six moths in prison after he was charged for public violence during the Higher Education FeesMustFall protest in 2015.
Nduli said Khanyile’s views are based on protecting black leaders in the country and added that jailing the former President, Jacob Zuma, was an attack on black leadership.
After Khanyile pleaded guilty to disobeying police orders to disperse, public violence and possession of a dangerous weapon, a slingshot which he used to assault police with stones, he was given a R5 000 fine with a suspended three year sentence.
The alleged incident of inciting violence could see him being in trouble for violating his FeesMustFall sentence conditions.
Khanyile’s tweets which expressed support for the #FreeJacobZuma campaign were shared on Twitter by many and were reported to be against President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to order.
He appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning, 23 August 2021, and was charged with Incitement to commit public violence.
No prison will shift my firm belief, Zuma must be free, Jail or no jail. #FreeJacobZuma no retreat. Izwelethu ✋🏿#FreePresidentZuma #NgizweMchunu
— Bonginkosi Khanyile (@Khanyile_BG) July 19, 2021
