Axed uMkhonto weSizwe Party youth leader Bonginkosi Khanyile was arrested for the remarks he made earlier this year where he threatened to declare war if the IEC removed MK Party leader Jacob Zuma or the party from the ballot. At the time, the IEC wanted to bar Zuma from contesting for a seat in the National Assembly due to his 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court.
THREATENING TO DECLARE WAR
The former Fees Must Fall activist, who is accused of inciting the July 2021 unrest, said during the party's press briefing held in the Johannesburg CBD in March that there won't be elections if the party or its leader Zuma were not on the ballot. "Comrades, there is war coming; I want to proclaim it without any fear or favour. This war we are going all out. Cyril Ramaphosa has threatened us with military force, saying that they are ready to unleash the military; if they remove the MKP and President Zuma from the ballot as the face of the campaign and try to take our rights, there won't be elections in South Africa," he said at the time. If they remove the MKP and President Zuma from the ballot as the face of the campaign and try to take our rights, there won't be elections in South Africa," he said at the time. Khanyile was axed by the party a month before the elections without any explanation. He remains an ordinary member of the party.
ARRESTED
Khanyile was arrested by the Hawks in KwaZulu Natal yesterday and charged with contravention of the riotous assemblies' act and conspiracy to commit public violence. Hawks' spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale said it is alleged that Khanyile made a public announcement that was in contravention of the riotous assemblies Act. "The essence of the announcement was to instigate the citizens of South Africa to protest and commit acts of violence all over the country should the political party of his choice not be on the ballot paper. The announcement also had connotations that the citizens of the country must gather together and loot the country as previously done in July 2021," Mogale said. She added that a criminal case was reported at Brixton police station, and Khanyile was arrested at Durban Magistrate Court while he was appearing for the July 2021 matter. Khanyile was released on bail and will re-appear in the same court on September 23, 2024, for both cases.
