South Africa has called on Zimbabwe to uphold the rule of law and the rights of opposition leaders amidst global concern over the treatment of detained opposition figures. Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad expressed South Africa's concern and urged the Zimbabwean government to respect the rights of all citizens and political leaders. Additionally, Pahad appealed to opposition leaders to create a conducive environment for resolving the current challenges in Zimbabwe. South Africa has traditionally pursued a policy of "quiet diplomacy" towards President Robert Mugabe, believing that public confrontation could be counterproductive. Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), along with many others, was arrested on Sunday for trying to protest against Mugabe's leadership. Tsvangirai and the group went to court on Tuesday but were quickly taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries allegedly suffered while in police custody. Pahad stated that South Africa will persist in collaborating with all parties in Zimbabwe to promote dialogue among political groups.