Court postpones Bonginkosi Khanyile’s trial to end February

Bonginkosi Khanyile in court

Durban Regional Court has postponed the trial of alleged 2021 July unrest instigator Bonginkosi Khanyile to the 26th of February 2026.

During cross-examination, the former Fees Must Fall activist insisted that he was only drumming up support for the release of former President Jacob Zuma.

Khanyile is standing trial in the Durban Regional Court on charges that he incited people to commit violence during the unrest and held meetings in contravention of COVID-19 regulations.

The unrest broke out after Zuma was imprisoned for contempt of the Constitutional Court.

Prosecutor Advocate Yuri Gangai put it to Khanyile that he is tailoring his evidence about the date of a meeting he addressed in Durban and the meaning of what he said to evade the charges.

Khanyile denies that he encouraged people to commit arson, loot and block roads.

“I have no reason of trying to evade anything. What happened there, it happened and I have explained it over and over the court. I spoke to the people, explained the plight that Zuma’s arrest was a wrong arrest and we ought to resist. All of us who were in agreement agreed. I ate meat in the name of inhloko and I celebrated and it was nice and jolly. If you are saying there was some chaotic element happening in Warwick, please prove it to me.”

Comrade Bonginkosi Khanyile is appearing in court for the second day, continuing his testimony in a case linked to the July 21 unrest. pic.twitter.com/F9MzJXl92l

— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (Official) (@MkhontoweSizwex) January 27, 2026