South Africa is calling on Zimbabwe to uphold the rule of law and the rights of opposition leaders following international criticism of the treatment of detained opposition figures by Zimbabwean police. Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad expressed concern over the situation in Zimbabwe and urged the government to respect the rights of all citizens and political party leaders. South Africa also appealed to opposition leaders to work towards creating a conducive environment for resolving the challenges facing the people of Zimbabwe. Despite longstanding "quiet diplomacy" towards President Robert Mugabe, South Africa is now speaking out on the issue. Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was among several individuals arrested for trying to protest against Mugabe's regime. Tsvangirai and the other detainees appeared in court on Tuesday, but were subsequently hospitalized for injuries allegedly sustained while in police custody. Pahad stated that South Africa would persist in collaborating with all factions in Zimbabwe to facilitate dialogue among all political parties.