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Thread: Helen Zille arrested?

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Helen Zille arrested?

    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

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    Platinum Member Marq's Avatar
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    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?

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    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

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    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
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    Here is Zille's official statement, from the DA website.
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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    It seems that item may have been pulled.

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    just me duncan drennan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave A View Post
    It seems that item may have been pulled.
    It seems the DA's website is currently not working....
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    Silver Member Eugene's Avatar
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    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.
    Last edited by Dave A; 27-Jul-08 at 09:54 AM.

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    Silver Member Eugene's Avatar
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    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!

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    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?

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    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.

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