Bonginkosi Khanyile, the leader of the Patriotic Alliance’s youth wing and premier candidate for KwaZulu-Natal, was expelled on Wednesday, the party announced.
Party leaders Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene claimed in a statement that the former student activist was fired following his attendance at a gathering for the recently established Umkhonto we Sizwe party.
Former President Jacob Zuma, who has expressed his support for the party, spoke at the ceremony with Khanyile.
In a video from the occasion, Khanyile was summoned to the platform by Zuma. A beaming Zuma said in isiZulu that Khanyile will be running with them in the following year’s election.
Khanyile released a video a few hours before it was revealed that he had been fired. In it, he berated people who had uploaded a video of him attending the MK event.
In the video, Khanyile declared that he didn’t require consent to participate in or attend any party events, adding that he would broadcast his decision if he felt like it.
He said he was “irritated” by the people who were posting and leaving comments on the videos surrounding him and urged them to stop.
https://twitter.com/Khanyile_BG/status/1739958829964571018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
However, Khanyile apologized for his behavior in a statement he released several hours later while holding a PA banner.
He clarified that he wasn’t now associated with the MK, saying he had gone to the function to show support for Zuma, whom he had always thought of as a father.
Khanyile expressed regret for what he had done, declared that he will always be a loyal PA member, and admitted that he shouldn’t have spoken to the group.
The PA said it noted Khanyile’s apology but stressed he had committed a dismissible offence.
“The leadership of the PA has decided that it is not acceptable for any leader of the PA to appear, without consultation of other PA leaders, at an event of a rival political party.
“Khanyile’s appearance was used by PA detractors to suggest that the PA is affiliated with MK in some way and that Khanyile was endorsing the party, particularly because Khanyile was accompanied to the event by PA supporters wearing our party’s regalia.
“Khanyile’s actions have brought both himself and the party into disrepute in a manner that unfortunately requires the firmest and most decisive responses,” the party said.
The party said it would announce Khanyile’s replacement soon, saying it had a “strong crop” of youth leaders to choose from.
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