The latter half of 2015 saw a radical movement, consisting mainly of university students, taking to the streets and protesting against the increase in tuition fees as well as government’s failure to increase the funding of universities.
The fees must fall movement brought the country to a standstill when malicious damage to property resulted from the numerous protests that took place.
One activist, Khanya Cekeshe, who was caught on camera dousing a police van with paraffin before setting it alight was arrested shortly after. Cekeshe appeared at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday hoping to get leave to appeal his conviction and be granted bail.
Magistrate Theunis Carstens denied Cekeshe both leave to appeal his conviction and bail stating that the defendant had pleaded guilty to his charges and the evidence against him was enough to keep him behind bars. Cekeshe was sentenced to 5 years in prison for public violence and malicious damage to property. He has been in Leeuwkop prison since December 2017.
Minister of Justice and Correctional services, Ronald Lamola, acknowledged the magistrate’s judgement but told the media that his department would be exploring other avenues to free fees must fall activists from prison.
“We note the dismissal of both the leave to appeal and bail for fees must fall activist Khanya Cekeshe by the Johannesburg Magistrate Court. We’re in the process of urgently assisting him with an application for presidential pardon or other legally available avenues”, he said.
