JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — South African human rights organisations on Saturday condemned the arrest of about 300 destitute Zimbabwean nationals.

"We have been informed by the SAPS (South African Police Service) that the purpose of the raid was to clear the streets and enforce municipal bylaws," the Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Resources Centre said in a joint statement.

"Large numbers of SAPS and metro police swooped on 344 people seeking shelter from cold, shortly after midnight," the statement added.

Bishop Paul Verryn of the Central Methodist Church said among those arrested were women and children.

The church is situated in central Johannesburg and provides shelter to several hundred refugees, who sleep in the building, most of whom had fled the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans rest in there make shift homes at the show grounds in Musina