uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party member Bonginkosi Khanyile has again questioned the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma, calling it unfair and politically driven.
Speaking at a community event in KwaMashu, Khanyile told supporters, *”You may not like me, but we must admit it was wrong for Cyril Ramaphosa and Judge Zondo to arrest Jacob Zuma.”
His comments refer to Zuma’s 15-month prison sentence in 2021 for refusing to testify before the Zondo Commission investigating state capture. The arrest led to violent protests in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, resulting in over 300 deaths and major economic damage.
Khanyile, who helped organize protests after Zuma’s arrest, claimed the decision was not just about the law but about targeting a political rival. “Ramaphosa and Zondo didn’t care about justice—they wanted to remove a political opponent,” he said.
“You don’t have to like me, but let’s accept the truth that it was wrong for Cyril Ramaphosa and Judge Zondo to arrest Jacob Zuma” MK Party Member Bonginkosi Khanyile
“During the July unrest, we did not know that the MK Party would be formed. If President Zuma was arrested… pic.twitter.com/1B1aQwoucR
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) June 15, 2025
The MK Party has long accused the ANC and courts of “selective justice” against leaders with anti-apartheid backgrounds. Khanyile’s remarks come as Zuma faces ANC disciplinary action for backing the MK Party in the recent elections.
Legal experts say Zuma’s imprisonment was lawful and needed to uphold the court’s authority. Analysts suggest Khanyile’s statements aim to rally support for the MK Party, which presents itself as the true heir to Zuma’s political legacy.
Neither President Ramaphosa nor Chief Justice Zondo has responded. The MK Party says it will keep fighting what it calls systemic bias against its leaders.
