The African Diaspora Forum (ADF) could take legal action against the state for the illegal detention of documented foreign nationals following the Johannesburg raids last week.
Police arrested more than 600 suspects on various charges, including possession of counterfeit goods and a lack of permits for residency. They were kept at Johannesburg Central police station for verification.
“Currently we are sitting with our legal team and seeking that if at least we can sue even the state for the illegal arrest of documented migrants and holding them more than 48 hours without producing them in court,” says ADF’s spokesperson, Amir Sheikh.
Sheikh alleges that more than 200 of those arrested had the necessary documentation.
“The difficulty is only arising from members who are not willing for fears that their documentation will be revoked or they may be actually victimised but we will go ahead with that and it will not the first time. We have similar unnecessary raids in the year 2011.”
The suspects are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Monday.
Seven officers arrested for corruption and defeating the ends of justice are also set to appear.
They are accused of attempting to sell some of the confiscated goods back to the illegal traders.
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