#FeesMustFall leader guilty of public violence
Almost three years after his arrest, local #FeesMustFall leader, Bonginkosi Khanyile has been found guilty of public violence, possession of a dangerous weapon and failing to comply with a police officer’s instructions.
Khanyile was arrested during the protests at the Durban University of Technology in September 2016.
The case came before the Durban Magistrate’s Court earlier today.
In a statement that was read out in court, Khanyile admitted to having unlawfully assembled students at DUT's ML Sultan Campus on the 27th of September, 2016.
He admitted to using a slingshot to throw stones at police officers and to ignoring their instructions.
Magistrate Siphiwe Hlophe convicted Khanyile on a count of public violence, a count of being in possession of a dangerous weapon and two counts of failing to comply with a police officer's orders.
The State has abandoned the remaining nine counts it had originally levelled against him. Khanyile has been acquitted of those.
He was initially denied bail but took his bid to the Constitutional Court, where he was eventually released on R250.
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Last month, Khanyile’s advocate, Danie Combrink indicated that his client had reached an agreement with the State and would, in effect, be pleading guilty to four of the 13 counts that were proffered against him.The case came before the Durban Magistrate’s Court earlier today.
In a statement that was read out in court, Khanyile admitted to having unlawfully assembled students at DUT's ML Sultan Campus on the 27th of September, 2016.
He admitted to using a slingshot to throw stones at police officers and to ignoring their instructions.
Magistrate Siphiwe Hlophe convicted Khanyile on a count of public violence, a count of being in possession of a dangerous weapon and two counts of failing to comply with a police officer's orders.
The State has abandoned the remaining nine counts it had originally levelled against him. Khanyile has been acquitted of those.
Sentencing has been set down for October.
