'Student activist's arrest politically motivated': National Student Movement
The defense team of Fees Must Fall protester, Bonginkosi Khanyile, is expected to serve the Supreme Court of Appeal with papers today - calling for yesterday's bail appeal dismissal to be overturned.
A Pietermaritzburg High Court judge dismissed the DUT student's appeal on Thursday - saying that a magistrate was right not to grant Khanyile bail as he is a repeat offender on similar charges.
Khanyile's advocate, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, confirmed that the papers for the Supreme Court of Appeal have already been signed.
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Khanyile - who was arrested in September during protests at DUT - is accused of having a weapon in his possession, contravening the Explosives Act, and assaulting a police officer - among other charges.
Meanwhile the NFP's student wing, the National Student Movement, has demanded he be released immediately.
Ndabenhle Buthelezi says they believe Khanyile's detention is politically motivated.
"We are not appealing, we are not requesting, but we are demanding that the State does us a favour - and themselves a favour - by releasing Bongingkosi. Because if they don't, all hell will break loose. If they do not, we will ensure that in Janary, we push them to a point where there isn't any other option but to release him," he said.