Khanyile‚ who rose to the chant of struggle song Solomon – a tribute to MK cadre Solomon Mahlangu who was hanged by the apartheid government at the age of 23 in 1979 – was slapped with a suspension letter by the university on Thursday.
Controversial Fees Must Fall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile graduated with a Degree of Bachelor of Technology in Public Management at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) on Friday — a day after he was suspended for a month for taking part in violent student protests.
The student protests last month related to the non-payment of National Student Financial Aid Scheme allowances. It resulted in damage to university property and left four students injured after they were shot by rubber bullets.
A handful of EFF supporters who came to support #FeesMustFall activist #BonginkosiKhanyile during his graduation at DUT @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/xhrfU1E1cm
— T. Dlamini (@moskido) May 11, 2018
A handful of EFF supporters who came to support #FeesMustFall activist #BonginkosiKhanyile during his graduation at DUT 🎥 @Khungwayo @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/oUUBDjGkt8
— T. Dlamini (@moskido) May 11, 2018
There was tight security at Friday’s graduation ceremony‚ with a number of private security personnel deployed around the venue and at strategic places.
After his graduation‚ Khanyile told TimesLIVE that he was very proud of his achievement. He added that he would continue with his studies as he had been inspired by Economic Freedom Fighters leaders such as Julius Malema‚ who graduated with a BA-Honours Degrees in Philosophy at Unisa last year.
“I’m still registered and I am still going to pursue my studies. Remember we’re inspired by the great leaders‚ the CIC Julius Malema who was able to study even when others said he failed woodwork‚” he said.
But he was livid about his suspension and the decision by DUT to deny access to his graduation some of the EFF leaders‚ like Mbuyiseni Ndlozi‚ because of security reasons.