Zuma says he spoke to Mugabe, he is safe but under house arrest

South African President Jacob Zuma, current chair of the Southern African Development Community, says he spoke to President Robert Mugabe this morning and he indicated that he was fine but confined to his home.

Zuma also says South Africa is in contact with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces which has taken over the country yesterday but insists this is not a military coup.

The South African President has also deployed two ministers to Zimbabwe Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Minister of State Security Bongani Bongo to meet with Mugabe and the Zimbabwean Defence Force.

Full statement:

STATEMENT ON THE UNFOLDING EVENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE

President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as Chair of SADC, is sending Special Envoys to Zimbabwe and Angola in light of the unfolding situation in the Republic of Zimbabwe.

 The President is sending the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and the Minister of State Security, Adv Bongani Bongo to Zimbabwe to meet with President Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwean Defence Force.

 President Zuma spoke to President Robert Mugabe earlier today who indicated that he was confined to his home but said that he was fine. South Africa is also in contact with the Zimbabwean Defence Force (ZDF).

 The Special Envoys will also be sent to the Republic of Angola to see President Joao Lourenco, Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security to brief him on the situation.

 President Zuma has reiterated his call for calm and restraint and for the ZDF to ensure that peace and stability are not undermined in Zimbabwe.

 SADC will continue to monitor the situation closely.

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