Spartacist/South Africa photo Xolani Khoza (centre) with supporters outside Mbombela courthouse, 29 August 2025.
22 SEPTEMBER 2026—Following a 2-year delay by the prosecution, the trial of Xolani Khoza, an EFF member and community activist from Pienaar township in Enhlanzeni, will begin on 14 October. While Xolani will be the one sitting in the dock, this trial is a threat to everyone facing the neoliberal attacks of the so-called “Government of National Unity”.
The persecution of Xolani began in June 2024, when he was kidnapped at gunpoint by unidentified agents of the Hawks/DPCI and slapped with charges of incitement to commit terrorism, public violence and intimidation. To this day, the only “crime” ever alleged is that he posted a Tik Tok denouncing the GNU and calling for protests to defend the black masses against the attacks this government would unleash. At the time, Xolani was playing a prominent role in a SACCAWU strike at the Spar distribution centre where he works. His persecution is a blatant assault on freedom of speech aimed at silencing opposition to the pro-imperialist, anti-black GNU agenda. This must be fought. Drop all charges against Xolani Khoza, now! Fighting for black freedom is not terrorism!
The prosecutors had already dropped the case a year ago, on 29 August 2025. They had no other choice, because they were unable to produce a shred of evidence to support the trumped-up charges. Nothing about the facts of the case has changed since then. The reason the trial is now resuming has everything to do with the reactionary political climate in the country. The Hawks in “Nelspruit” (Mbombela) and their friends feel emboldened as right-wing, pro-imperialist forces have scored one political win after another this year—from the racist outrage of Malema’s 5-year prison sentence in April, to the anti-immigrant, tribalist riots in June. The EFF is in their cross-hairs: just look at March and March chief Ngizwe Mchunu’s violent attacks on the EFF rally in KZN last weekend.
Mobilising to defend Xolani is part and parcel of fighting to turn this reactionary tide. We must not let our political differences stand in the way of uniting to defend ourselves against the attacks. Abahlali and backyard dwellers facing the threat of stepped-up evictions: defending Xolani will put you in a better position to fight the PIE Amendments. Members of GIWUSA, SACCAWU, SAMWU and workers everywhere fighting retrenchment, austerity and privatisation: joining this fight will win you allies to resist the bosses’ jobs bloodbath and deindustrialisation. Behind Xolani’s persecution is the ruling class’s fear that mass struggle, particularly by the black proletariat, can challenge the GNU’s pro-imperialist agenda. Defending him is an urgent and necessary first step to organise a broad struggle to defend the working class and all oppressed. GNU: Hands off Xolani Khoza!
