UMkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) member and former student activist Bonginkosi Khanyile was arrested on Tuesday after he skipped court for his July 2021 unrest trial.

In a video taken in jail, Khanyile explained his alleged involvement in the violent disruption that left 354 people dead nearly four years ago.

He thanked his friends, fellow MKP members and Jacob Zuma for providing him with legal counsel. "I'm speaking to you just after the court provisionally cancelled my bail...My lawyers have seen me, and they will continue with my case.

"I am strong. What we did in the July unrest was to campaign for the law to be used in a just manner and that it was also wrong for Zuma to be arrested. We were fighting against his unjust treatment," Khanyile said.

He went on to say that this is still a priority which he will not abandon. "No jail, fearmongering, sentence or cancelled bail make me shift from what I stood for."

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the matter was on the court roll on Monday for the trial to commence and Khanyile failed to appear in court.

"The attorney on record for the accused did not know where the accused was. The attorney was granted leave to withdraw as attorney of record and the matter stood down till 12pm. The matter was called again and there was no appearance from the accused," she said.

Ramkisson-Kara added that an arrest warrant was issued, and his bail was provisionally terminated. It will be officially forfeited on March 17, 2025.

"The accused was arrested during the morning of March 4, 2025, and he appeared in court on March 4. He is in custody and the bail enquiry is scheduled for 5."

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