Zimbabweans caught out in SA nightclub drama

nessman and at the time of the raid was packed with over a hundred revellers, most of them Zimbabwean citizens working in South Africa.
Solomon Chikohwero, a pro-democracy activist based in Johannesburg, said when the police team forced its way into the nightclub they ordered everyone to lie down.
Those who initially resisted were beaten up and scores of patrons received minor injuries after the skirmishes. Chikohwero said police performed body searches on every individual, demanding identity papers.
‘On top of the identity papers, they took away money and cellphones, including passports with valid work permits. You wonder if this was a genuine raid by the police because in the end noone was arrested,’ said Chikohwero.
Initial reaction from the clubbers was that of shock at first but turned to anger when they realised the team had taken their money and phones. The team leader of the police group, described as white, is alleged to have shouted at the stunned patrons; ‘this is our country, we do what we want here.’
‘We can’t say the raid could have had some racial connotations because the majority of the police officers were black. This was xenophobia more than anything else,’ Chikohwero said.
Asked if any of the patrons had complained to the police about the raid, Chikohwero believes many could have decided against it because the majority of them are not documented and fear creating trouble for themselves if they approached the authorities. – SW Radio Africa