WATCH | ‘We fought for justice’ – MK Party’s Khanyile speaks from jail after court no-show

Khanyile

Cape Town – Former MK Party Youth League national coordinator Bonginkosi Khanyile has been rearrested and detained after missing his court appearance in the Durban Magistrate’s Court, where he faces charges of inciting public violence during the 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

According to reports, KwaZulu-Natal NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara confirmed that Bonginkosi Khanyile’s trial was set to begin on Monday, but he failed to appear in court.

This resulted in the court issuing a warrant for his arrest and provisionally cancelling his bail.

“The attorney on record for the accused did not know where the accused was. The attorney was granted leave to withdraw as attorney of record and the matter stood down till 12pm. The matter was called again and there was no appearance from the accused,” IOLquoted Ramkisson-Kara as saying.

She said that a warrant for Khanyile’s arrest was issued, and his bail was temporarily revoked. It is set to be permanently forfeited on March 17, 2025.

“The accused was arrested during the morning of March 4, 2025, and he appeared in court on March 4. He is in custody and the bail enquiry is scheduled for 5.”

Speaking from his jail cell, Khanyile criticised the judicial system for his rearrest and thanked MK Party leader Jacob Zuma for providing legal support.

“I’m speaking to you just after the court provisionally cancelled my bail… I wish to thank all comrades who are supporting me, and I also wish to thank the MK Party leader for assigning a lawyer who will represent me in court on Wednesday.

“I am strong. What we did in the July unrest was to campaign for the law to be used in a just manner and that it was also wrong for Zuma to be arrested. We were fighting against his unjust treatment,” said Khanyile.

He was previously arrested by the Hawks in August 2023 for allegedly violating the Riotous Assemblies Act, The Citizen reported.

Ahead of the elections, he reportedly threatened unrest if Jacob Zuma or the MK party were barred from contesting.

As a result, he was removed as the MKYL national coordinator and given a suspended R150,000 fine by the electoral court for incitement, the report said.

Authorities claim he urged citizens to protest and commit violence if his preferred party was excluded from the ballot, referencing the July 2021 riots, said the report.

Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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