BONGINKOSI Khanyile appeared in court on Monday, 15 August, in connection with the July Unrest.
The former Fees Must Fall activist was in the Durban Regional Court, facing charges of incitement to commit public violence and contravention of the Disaster Management Act.
The trial was set to begin on Monday and carry on until 29 August but it was postponed to Friday, 19 August. Khanyile’s lawyer Masibonge Matane asked for the postponement.
He said he needed to speak to his client about documents he received on Saturday and that his client informed him on Monday morning that he wanted new counsel.
“I have contacted the new counsel and he said he will be available on Friday, so I appeal that this matter be postponed until Friday so he can present himself in court,” he said.
Prosecutor Yuri Gangai said Khanyile would do anything to make sure the matter did not proceed.
“The state is ready to proceed with trial but Khanyile is delaying,” he said.
However, speaking outside court, Khanyile said he did not want to run away from the trial.
“What makes me have no fear in my heart is knowing I’m an innocent man. I never took a refrigerator, I never stole anything. I’ve never instructed anyone to go and steal. Only a guilty person would run away,” he said.
Khanyile was arrested at university in Joburg in 2021 and was escorted to Durban by police. He has been out on R5 000 bail since September. It is alleged that he helped incite public violence during the July unrest last year on social media and other public platforms.
