Bonginkosi Khanyile arrested like ‘hardened criminal’ for Zuma riots – mother.. News that well-known Fees Must Fall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile was arrested in the early hours this week dominated headlines this weekend, with many questioning the Hawks’ heavy-handed tactics in orchestrating the arrest, reportedly at 2am at his student residence at Wits University.
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Bonginkosi Khanyile arrested like ‘hardened criminal’ for Zuma riots – mother—–
He was transported to Durban Central Police Station shortly thereafter.
Khanyile had been calling for the release of former president Jacob Zuma after his imprisonment last month for contempt of court.
The 31-year-old Khanyile now faces being charged for allegedly being an instigator in the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal that cost the country billions, led to 150,000 job losses and more than 300 deaths.
A Hawks statement said: “It is alleged that the suspect was involved in the incitement of public violence through social media and other platforms during the period of unrest in KwaZulu-Natal.
“He was arrested at one of the higher learning institutions in Johannesburg and was escorted to KwaZulu-Natal where he was detained,” spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said in a statement on Friday.
He was to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The EFF and its Student Command was yet to comment on the arrest.
However, in an interview with Khanyile’s mother, Sunday World reported that she was asking why the police had waited to “ambush” Khanyile while he was sleeping instead of just arresting him during the day.
She complained her son had been treated like a “hardened and wanted criminal” and argued he was just passionate about education and fighting for justice.
Examples can still be found online of Khanyile’s support for the #FreeZuma campaign.
Mpumalanga Province has joined the revolution with utmost revolutionary spirit.
Just like Gauteng province, KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces Mpumalanga Province says #FreeJacobZuma
