WE NEED TO HEAR THE TRUTH

AS COULD have been expected, there are now two sides of the story
being told after the arrest of Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and
Cape Town mayor Helen Zille and eight others following a march to
protest illegal drug dealing in Cape Town on Sunday.

Police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangana confirmed the arrest and
said it was done because the group had been "illegally" gathered in
front of the Mitchell's Plain police station.

Sinyangana said during the legal march earlier in the day, one of the
march organisers violated the stipulated conditions by instigating the
group (including the mayor) to act illegally.

He said a group of marchers, including Zille, then gathered in front
of Mitchell's Plain police station demanding the release of the
arrested person.

Sinyangana also said in terms of the conditions agreed upon with the
organising committee, it was agreed that a memorandum would be dropped
at the letter box, no fire arms were to be carried, no covering of
faces, and not to stop or enter the premises of the alleged drug dealer.

He also said the organiser's arrest -- in terms of the Illegal
Gatherings Act -- was clearly explained to the group. After the group
failed to disperse they were arrested, he said.

Zille tells another story. According to her and DA councillor Grant
Pascoe she was arrested after she went to a police station to enquire
about action leader Moulana Armine Maker's arrest.

Zille, who now plans to sue the South African Police Services, said
the arrests reminded her of the dark days of apartheid.

"We did nothing wrong. It's a set-up," she said, adding that there
were definite political overtones.

Zille maintains that it was a legal protest march and that no
regulations were broken. "It's just the next action with a political
motive that follows on a political appointment as the chief of police."

What the real truth behind the arrests is, we do not know at this
stage.

If true, as Sinyangana explained, that the leader of the official
opposition has broken the country's laws, Zille will have to face the
course of justice.

If indeed, as she said, there has been an ulterior motive for her
arrest, government has some explaining to do.

The arrest of an opposition political leader to score political points
would be unforgivable.

South Africa's political landscape is volatile as it is, and political
attention should rather be focused on the pressing challenges facing
its leaders.

It is a sad indictment of life in SA when a protest march against
illegal drug dealing, which should enjoy support from all citizens, is
tainted by political undertones.