Justice minister extends helping hand to Khanya Cekeshe
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola says his department is in the process of assisting Fees Must Fall activist Khanya Cekeshe with an application for a presidential pardon.
Lamola took to Twitter on Monday saying he has noted the dismissal of Cekeshe's applications and is willing to assist in other legal avenues.
We note the dismissal of both the leave to appeal and bail for fees must fall activists Khaya 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.
— Minister of Justice and Correctional Services 🇿🇦 (@RonaldLamola) October 14, 2019
On Monday Cekeshe was denied leave to appeal his conviction and sentence by the Johannesburg Magistrates Court.
His application for bail was also dismissed.
In 2017, Cekeshe was sentenced to eight years in jail - with three years suspended - for malicious damage to property after he was found guilty of torching a police car during Fees Must Fall protests.
ALSO READ: Kanya Cekeshe bail application denied
Cekeshe approached the court requesting he be let out on bail pending his appeal.
The minister's spokesperson Chrispin Phiri says the assistance is also available to other Fees Must Fall activists.
"This is a standing offer. It was made the previous minister as well and when we revisited the facts around the matter we found that unfortunately there's no record of Fees Must Fall activists actually applying for this process and we've asked them to apply again.
"The ministry is in good contact with the South African Union of Students and they are assisting to collate other activists who may have been convicted for crimes which we could say are related to the Fees Must Fall protest."
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