Police remove Zille critic
2010-05-26 20:20
Cape Town - A man carrying a placard claiming Western Cape Premier Helen Zille was "evil" was removed by police from the street in front of her Cape Town office on Wednesday.
Cape Town police spokesperson Ezra October told Sapa that police had received complaints that the man, wearing a Muslim thobe and headgear, was "becoming a nuisance and intimidating people".
"He became stroppy and very arrogant with the public," he said.
Police tried unsuccessfully to calm him down, then took him to the Caledon Square police station.
"He was not arrested," October said. "He was allowed to go and he didn't return."
The man, who told Sapa his name was Ishaaq Peters, had a second placard saying "Zille supports Shapiro", an apparent reference to cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, who has provoked controversy with a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad.
On Tuesday Peters was in front of the legislature with a placard proclaiming Zille was involved in the occult.
He explained then that a cousin of his had stolen his astrological chart and given it to Zille and that she had used it to destroy his business.
- SAPA