nairiporter | Zille arrested while protesting

Zille arrested during anti-drug protests

DA LEADER and Cape Town mayor Helen Zille was arrested in the Cape Flats yesterday for participating in a legal march against drug lords, she told SABC radio last night.

“The last time I saw anything like this was under apartheid when I was taken in,” said Zille.

Zille is expected to be charged with contravening the Regulations of Gatherings Act and appear in court tomorrow. She plans to lodge a counter claim of unlawful arrest.

Zille said she had joined the march with many people who were "sick and tired of the drug dealers” and “furious”.

“The police are being exposed for what they are. There are scores of police and the drug dealers are going ahead with their trade,” said Zille. This included selling drugs to children.

Zille claimed the police were busy with a “purely political” agenda.

Western Cape police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangana said: “I cannot talk about it. We will release a statement”.

DA finance spokesperson Douglas Gibson said: “To have a situation where the leader of the opposition party in South Africa is arrested for (participating in) a legal march against illegal drug lords shows which way we are going in this country.

“They don’t arrest the drug lords who are known to all, but they arrest Helen Zille.” — Sapa