Student activist out on bail amidst calls for his release
Students want NPA to investigate political interference in Khanyile’s case
STUDENT activist Bonginkosi Khanyile was released on Wednesday by the Constitutional Court on bail of R250. His release comes just days after the #FreeBonginkosiKhanyile campaign took to the streets of Durban on Friday last week.
According to reports EFF leader, Julius Malema was in court on Wednesday in support of Khanyile and told reporters that the party believed the student had been wrongfully arrested while he was fighting for a just cause.
Conditions of his release include the fact that he is not allowed to intimidate staff or personnel and may not obstruct police from performing their duties.
On Friday, religious leaders and various Human Rights Organizations joined the march and called for the immediate release of the Durban University of Technology student who has been held in prison since September last year when he was arrested during the height of the #FeesMustFall protests.
Students also called on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to investigate allegations of political interference in Khanyile’s case. On Friday, student activist and convener of the march, Sthembiso ka Shandu, said: “It is unfair that Khanyile is still languishing in jail, while many other #FeesMustFall student leaders have been released.”
“It is clear to us that government is very scared of the ideas that he carries and we appeal to the NPA to investigate what we see as government’s vendetta against a student who believes that a free decolonized education is possible. We are here to show government and its agents that it is not only Khanyile who holds those views, there are many Khanyiles.”
Church leaders who were present at the march described the current government as being worse than the apartheid government. “We are here to show support for the students. We believe Khanyile has not been afforded a fair trial. There are no clear charges against him and we are also aware that there is directive from the President not to release him. Our government has become worse than the apartheid government, how do they deny a young man an opportunity to better his life and why is he still in jail, when others were released, ” asked Rev Alvin Sigamoney of the St Paul Anglican Church.
Anglican priest, Vernon Hammond said: “We are in solidarity with the students and we believe his arrest is to set an example to other students not to protest in the future.”
The students also handed a memorandum to the NPA. Sunill Prithipal from the NPA confirmed receipt of the memorandum on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal. “This memorandum will be forwarded to her office and we will look into your concerns,” he told the students.
The final-year Durban University of Technology public administration student and EFF representative is facing eight charges which include public violence‚ illegal gathering and inciting violence. Despite his incarceration, Khanyile got distinctions in all four subjects that he wrote in prison.
