FEES might have fallen, but for some of the movement’s leaders, its prison bars that are likely to fall on them.
While, Khanya Tandile Cekeshe, a FootPrint Media Academy student, is currently serving a five-year jail term in Leeuwkop prison for burning a police van in Braamfontein at the height of the #FeesMustFall protests in 2016, leaders like Mcebo Dlamini, Lukhanyo Matinise, are still attending classes and Amla Monageng is under house arrest.
On Monday, Durban University of Technology (DUT) former student leader and Fees Must Fall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile was found guilty of public violence‚ for failing to comply with police instructions and the possession of a dangerous weapon at the Durban Regional Court. He will know his fate when he returns to court on 16 October for sentencing. He remains out on bail.
“This is a national campaign aimed at mobilizing support to ensure that all charges are dropped against all Fees Must Fall activists. We are asking the President to pardon and exonerate all charges these leaders face,” said EFF’s Philani Gazuzu, speaking outside the court.
Khanyile, who was facing 15 charges, pleaded guilty to three charges while the state withdrew the other ten. Khanyile, who addressed the crowd after the court judgement said: “I pleaded guilty because I was advised by my lawyers to do so, however I still maintain my innocence. I pleaded to the minor charges and they withdrew their other ten charges. The decision was taken to confuse the enemy, I pleaded guilty to go home instead of a prison cell. We believe in free education, students must continue to fight for a free, decolonial education.”
ALSO READ: #FeesMustFall: Pardon us, pleads student activist
Meanwhile, former Wits University SRC President Mcebo Dlamini, who was also arrested on public violence charges, says that he doesn’t believe it will serve the students well to have those fighting for their rights being convicted.
“It is not good for us as activists and for students at large. The law in our country is somehow failing us. What we were fighting for was approved, but, we still have people being convicted on baseless charges,” said Dlamini.
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