The indignity of apartheid-era pass raids and arrests is a painful part of the history of this country that many South Africans would rather forget.
The indignity of apartheid-era pass raids and arrests is a painful part of the history of this country that many South Africans would rather forget.
But those dehumanising police actions cannot be wiped from our consciousness as long as people continue to be stopped daily for indiscriminate identity checks.
Most disturbing is the element of abuse that accompanies such checks.
A case in point is the recent brief arrest of two South Africans - Dan Mashaba and Zweli Mngadi - who were believed to be foreigners.
Their only sin was to have very dark skin.
Needless to say, the police's actions in this case border on xenophobia and can only serve to embarrass the country.
Indignities
The indignity of apartheid-era pass raids and arrests is a painful part of the history of this country that many South Africans would rather forget.
The indignity of apartheid-era pass raids and arrests is a painful part of the history of this country that many South Africans would rather forget.
But those dehumanising police actions cannot be wiped from our consciousness as long as people continue to be stopped daily for indiscriminate identity checks.
Most disturbing is the element of abuse that accompanies such checks.
A case in point is the recent brief arrest of two South Africans - Dan Mashaba and Zweli Mngadi - who were believed to be foreigners.
Their only sin was to have very dark skin.
Needless to say, the police's actions in this case border on xenophobia and can only serve to embarrass the country.
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