Khanyile has been granted conditional bail and ordered to suspend the usage of his Twitter account.
DURBAN – Alleged unrest instigator and Fees Must Fall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile has been granted R5,000 bail.
The 31-year-old appeared in the Durban Magistrate Court this morning, in connection with charges relating to the July unrest
Khanyile was arrested last month for allegedly inciting public violence during the unrest, and is facing five charges after more counts were added to his charge sheet.
The other charges relate to two counts of holding an illegal gathering and a further two counts for not wearing a face mask while in public.
Magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo handed down the ruling this morning where he also put in place a number of conditions on his bail, including suspension of his twitter account.
Khanyile was also given the following bail conditions:
- He must report at the Hillbrow police station twice a week. On Mondays and Fridays between 6am and 6pm, when he is at the Wits University campus
- If/when he is in Durban, he must report at Durban Central Police Station, between the same hours and on the same days
The National Prosecuting Authority said he was warned that should he breach his bail conditions, the state can bring an application to have his bail revoked and he can be kept in custody for the duration of the criminal matter.
Speaking after the ruling, Khanyile said that he is happy and jubilant that he was going home.
“This is our country, they can not oppress our parents and oppress us…they will never oppress our children. This is our country, Africa belongs to Africans and nobody can ever take that away,” said Khanyile.
The people gathered in the court room as Khanyile addressed the media cheered loudly.
According to the magistrate, Khanyile is expected to suspend the usage of his Twitter account for the duration of his case.
The case has been postponed to 23 September for transfer to regional court.
THE MERCURY
