Alleged July unrest instigator Bonginkosi Khanyile tells court he communicated regularly with Duduzile Zuma Sambudla

Bonginkosi Khanyile, who is accused of instigating the July unrest, testified in the Durban regional Court on Tuesday that he communicated often via WhatsApp with Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla.

The former Fees Must Fall activist is charged with incitement to commit public violence and the contravention of the Disaster Management Act linked to the July 2021 unrest.

Khanyile said he was calling for the release of former President Jacob Zuma, who was incarcerated for contempt of court regarding his failure to appear before the State Capture Commission.

During cross-examination by prosecutor Yuri Gangai, Khanyile was questioned about the date when videos were recorded, in which he is seen addressing crowds and urging them to keep burning the country and to block roads until Zuma was released. Khanyile said that the recordings occurred between 18 and 26 July 2021.

Gangai reminded Khanyile that during his evidence-in-chief, he had specified the date as July 26. Khanyile claimed he could not provide a specific day.

"I’m putting to you that you are misleading this court deliberately,” Gangai asserted.

Khanyile told the senior prosecutor “You are entitled to your opinion, which you can’t prove to the court. It’s based on your feelings. Unless you have scientific facts.”

When asked about the messages that he sent to Zuma-Sambudla on July 10, Khanyile said it was not a coincidence as he communicated often with her. 

The trial continues. 

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za