South Africa has called on Zimbabwe to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of opposition leaders following international outrage over the treatment of detained opposition figures. Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad expressed concern over the situation in Zimbabwe and urged the government to respect the rights of all Zimbabweans and political leaders. South Africa also encouraged opposition leaders to work towards creating a conducive environment for addressing the challenges faced by the people of Zimbabwe. Despite longstanding "quiet diplomacy" towards President Robert Mugabe, South Africa emphasized the importance of upholding human rights and addressing economic issues in Zimbabwe. Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was among several individuals who were arrested on Sunday for trying to protest against Mugabe's leadership. Tsvangirai and the others went to court on Tuesday but were quickly taken to the hospital to receive treatment for injuries reportedly obtained while in police custody. Pahad stated that South Africa would keep collaborating with all parties in Zimbabwe in order to achieve the goal of fostering dialogue among all political groups.