DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 29: Former political prisoner, ANC spokesperson and MP Carl Niehaus talks about white monopoly capital during an interview at Zimbali golf estate on July 29, 2017 in Durban, South Africa. During the interview, Niehaus said he has deliberately been keeping “below the radar” – until recently, that is, when he surfaced on ANN7, the Gupta propaganda TV channel. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Jackie Clausen)
WATCH: Carl Niehaus speaks out on his arrest, claims intimidation
MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus was handcuffed outside the Estcourt Correctional services Centre during a live TV interview
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 29: Former political prisoner, ANC spokesperson and MP Carl Niehaus talks about white monopoly capital during an interview at Zimbali golf estate on July 29, 2017 in Durban, South Africa. During the interview, Niehaus said he has deliberately been keeping “below the radar” – until recently, that is, when he surfaced on ANN7, the Gupta propaganda TV channel. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Jackie Clausen)
Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus has vowed to continue defending former president Jacob Zuma, adding that not even his arrest can deter him from expressing his condemnation.
Niehaus was arrested on live television on Thursday afternoon, 8 July 2021, outside the Estcourt Correctional services Centre where Zuma is serving his 15-month sentence.
Watch: Carl Niehaus on his arrest
Carl Niehaus, who was recently suspended by the African National Congress (ANC), has spoken out following his arrest for violating lockdown regulations.
“My arrest and all the other actions that are being taken to intimidate South Africans who express their outrage at this situation, must not allow us to cower and to be silent. It is our democratic right to speak out, to exercise the freedom of speech that we all fought for so hard during the struggle for liberation,”
MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), Niehaus, who was released after several hours, has been slapped with a R3 000 fine.
He has to pay the fine before the 6th of August 2021 or appear in the Escourt Magistrate’s Court.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said Niehaus was initially warned about the gathering, but he chose to ignore officials.
“The 61-year-old man is alleged to have convened a gathering of approximately 100 people outside the Escourt prison at about 16:00 this afternoon. The Disaster Management Act Regulations clearly outlines gatherings are prohibited, except for funerals where not more than 50 people are allowed to attend,” Naidoo said at the time.
“This arrest should be a warning to potential law-breakers that contravention of the lockdown regulations, especially amidst the ever-increasing Covid-19 virus, will not be tolerated”
