Bonginkosi Khanyile arrested for “conspiracy to commit public violence”

Former national coordinator of MK's uMkhonto weSizwe Youth League (MKYL) party, Bonginkosi Khanyile, was arrested for his comments ahead of the May elections.

The Priority Crime Investigations Directorate (Hawks) confirmed that a KwaZulu-Natal Crime Against The State officer arrested Khanyile on Friday for violating the Riotous Assembly Act. He was also charged with conspiracy to commit public violence.

Khanyile was released on bail and will reappear before the Durban Magistrates Court on both counts on 23 September 2024.

Khanyile “incites violence”

In the run-up to the elections, Khanyile publicly threatened that there would be no elections if former President Jacob Zuma or the MK Party were barred from participating in the election.

He was later removed from his post as youth leader of the party and sentenced by the Electoral Court to a suspended sentence of R150,000 for sedition.

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“It is alleged that Khanyile made a public announcement in contravention of the Riotous Assemblies Act. The essence of the announcement was to incite the citizens of South Africa to protest and commit acts of violence across the country if his chosen political party was not on the ballot paper.

“The announcement also contained the connotation that the country's citizens would have to gather and loot the country, as had already happened in July 2021.

“A criminal case was registered at Brixton Police Station and Khanyile was arrested at the Durban Magistrates Court when he appeared for the case in July 2021,” the Hawks said on Friday about his arrest.

Not the only MK party member in trouble

Visvin Reddy, former chairman of the MK party KZN and long-time supporter of Jacob Zuma, also warned during the election campaign that a civil war could break out if the party was unable to contest the elections.

MK Party spokesman Nhlamulo Ndhlela said 702 in April that members who incite violence would face disciplinary action and possibly expulsion.

“Any member who expresses or announces violence will be severely punished and we will expel him. Visvin Reddy will be treated the same as [MK youth leader] Bonginkos [Khanyile] also received a warning.”

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