Helen Zille arrested?

[Dave A]

I'm stunned by this piece.

Helen Zille, the leader of South Africa's opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said her arrest on Sunday afternoon while distributing pamphlets against drug abuse had political undertones and that she would be suing for wrongful arrest.

Zille said that she and a group of people were distributing pamphlets to campaign against drug abuse.
full story from IOL here

[Marq]

I have been arguing for a great Country, better than anywhere else etc etc against friends family and colleagues who have been assuring me that it is getting more and more like Zimbabwe.

With stuff like this out there - am I fighting a losing battle?

[Dave A]

I see the matter is postponed for 26 October. I can see this story travelling.

The last time I was taken in like this was under apartheid," Zille said on Monday.
from M&G here

[duncan drennan]

Here is Zille's official statement, from the DA website.

[Dave A]

It seems that item may have been pulled.

[duncan drennan]

It seems that item may have been pulled.

It seems the DA's website is currently not working....

[Eugene]

I think the link was: DA statement

Here follows the statement:


Court appearance


Statement issued by: Helen Zille, DA spokesperson on Leader of the Official Opposition
Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Earlier this morning (Tuesday) I, along with ten other residents of Mitchells Plain, appeared in the Mitchells Plain magistrate’s court after we were arrested on Sunday night during a peaceful and legal march against drugs.

We were arrested for allegedly contravening the Regulation of Gatherings Act but no charges were put to us this morning. The case was postponed to October 26, 2007 to allow for further investigation and for the Director of Public Prosecution to make a decision.

We maintain that we did not break any laws and we again ask why orderly marchers are being victimised by members of the police, while drug dealers are allowed to continue their destructive trade.

[Eugene]

My personal opinion is that it is a damn sad day for South Africa when one gets arrested when trying to do some good while you have full scale riot on the N2 on the way to Cape Town every other week and thus disrupting thousands of people on their way (and very late) for work!

[Dave A]

I suspect the hand of some legal advice in trimming that statement down. That is a very short statement for a politician who is in for some serious mileage on this. The arrest of the leader of the opposition in any country is big news, no matter what the circumstances.

I wonder if the police realised what a politically delicate terrain they were entering when they made that arrest?

[Dave A]

This might seem like unlikely support, but I know that there has been serious concern for some time amongst union folk in the Western Cape about the drug problems in that area.

The arrest of Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille was an attempt to settle political battles with state resources, the Western Cape office of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Tuesday.

The Cosatu statement coincided with a brief appearance by Zille and 10 other people in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court on a charge under the Regulation of Gatherings Act.

Cosatu said the confrontational "circus" between the provincial government and the City of Cape Town -- of which Zille is also mayor -- had been exacerbated by her arrest.

"[It] should be condemned as it uses state resources to settle political battles, and could be seen as part of the ongoing gimmick of governments to politicise everything whilst our people are suffering.
full story from M&G here

There is a touch of irony in the COSATU position on the Zille arrest. The COSATU position could be seen as part of the campaign of influence for the upcoming ANC congress. And so could the run of strikes this year.

I hope this is not the case. It would be quite refreshing to see COSATU come of age and focus their efforts more on improving the lot of their members rather than participating in the political intrigues of the ANC.

[Dave A]

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has withdrawn all charges against Mayor Helen Zille, a People's Anti-Drug and Liquor Action Committee (Padlac) leader, Amien Maker, and 11 others who were arrested last month after taking part in an anti-drug march in Mitchells Plain.

Maker was arrested for stopping at alleged drug outlets during last month's march, while Zille and the 11 other marchers were arrested for taking part in an illegal gathering outside the Mitchells Plain police station after Maker was arrested.

Western Cape DPP Rodney de Kock said in a statement on Tuesday that he had declined to prosecute "because there are no reasonable prospects of successful prosecutions".
full story from IOL here

So I guess this opens the door for wrongful arrest issues.

[duncan drennan]

So I guess this opens the door for wrongful arrest issues.

That would just seem like a waste of productive energy.

[Dave A]

Well - it looks like she is going to be "wasting" it anyway.

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille plans to sue the state for R300 000 following her arrest at an anti-drugs march earlier this year, she said on Friday.

"I intend to sue the police on three counts: unlawful arrest, unlawful detention and malicious prosecution. The amount involved on each count is R100 000," said Zille in a statement.

She intends donating any damages that might be awarded to her to drug rehabilitation work in the Mitchells Plain area.
full story from M&G here

[duncan drennan]

Having heard her talk about the latest spy scandal and her frustration at the police being used to investigate whistle blowers and such likes, it may actually make some sense in the DA's greater political strategy.

I'm still not too sure how much it achieves (i.e. actually changes) though.

[Dave A]

Well, if these things actually ever get to court (ie there isn't an out-of-court settlement), there will be the calling of witnesses who will have to give testimony under oath. And the opportunity exists for cross-examination. All sorts of funny things can fall under the limelight.

Then if it is settled out of court, there are those pesky questions in parliament..