#FeesMustFall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile sentenced to three years house arrest

#FEESMUSTFALL activist Bonginkosi Khanyile, was sentenced to three years house arrest at the Durban Regional Court on Monday.

Khanyile was also ordered to pay a R5 000 fine or serve a three-year prison sentence, suspended for five years and must undergo life skills courses.

Khanyile said he had accepted the sentence of three years house arrest, given to him for committing acts of public violence in 2016, his mind and soul were free, and in that sense he remained ‘an innocent man’.

ALSO READ: “I pleaded guilty to confuse the enemy,” says Khanyile

“I have no specific feelings about the case. It is done and finished. But the struggle will continue. We are not shaken by this,” he said.

While, Khanyile might have accepted his fate, the #FreeBonginkosi committee said they were angered and flabbergasted by the court’s decision to sentence Khanyile.

“This is yet another student to be sentenced for the Fees Must Fall protest amidst numerous attempts for students to be pardoned. It is clear to us that the government of the day was only bluffing when they said they believe in Free Education. You can’t be advocating for Free Education yet persecute those who fight for it at the same time. After three full years of wasting state resources on frivolous charges we are feeling a bit relieved because the case has now been concluded. We are also relieved because our fellow brother will sleep at home today instead of in a prison bed,” said the committee’s Philani Nduli.

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Khanyile’s advocate Danie Combrink said his client just needed to be ‘channeled in the right direction’.

According to Combrink, Khanyile stands out as a leader and can make a contribution to the community in future. Handing down the sentence Magistrate Siphiwe Hlophe said he would give Khanyile the benefit of the doubt on the issue of remorse.

“Free education is a good cause. And this campaign managed to raise awareness and the government was put under pressure to provide additional funding. But when you shut down teaching and learning, students become the biggest losers. But I believe you should be given an opportunity to accept responsibility for what happened and to develop yourself to prevent unacceptable behaviour in future,” she said.

“It’s always undesirable for a student to spend time in jail with hardcore criminals for demanding Free Education. Bonginkosi Khanyile was sentenced to three years suspended with a fine of five thousand rand and will be under house arrest. We also aware that Kanya Cekeshe is currently serving a five year sentence for his involvement in the movement. It is very unfortunate that the same conditions that were faced by freedom fighters during the dark days of apartheid are now being imposed by the so called “black government” on young activists post democratic dispensation,” concluded Nduli.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Fees Must Fall activist lays charges against Durban cop

During the festive season Khanyile led a group of 32 young activists who embarked a gruelling, nearly 500km walk from the Isandlwana battlefield site near Nquthu to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The walk was aimed at highlighting the plight of poor young people and that of jailed #FeesMustFall activist Khaya Cekeshe.

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