Trevor Ncube detained in South Africa

Johannesburg - Twitter was abuzz on Sunday after newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube was detained at OR Tambo International Airport for close to an hour.

"It's time South African immigration stopped assuming every black African coming into the country is a desperate criminal," an angry Ncube tweeted after announcing his detention.

He said he was released with just an apology.

Ncube tweeted he had been detained after immigration officials said there was something wrong with the photograph on his passport.

"After taking out their own IDs, they realise mine is same as theirs," he tweeted.

When the Witness tried to get comment from him, he declined, saying "sorry, too upset to talk now."

"Sad part of my experience with OR immigration is the three ladies that dealt with me did not appear clear as to what was wrong with my ID. I have been using same SA ID card since 2003 and travel at least three times a month via OR," he continued to tweet.

Zimbabwean-born Ncube is the publisher of the Mail & Guardian newspaper.

OR Tambo immigration officials said they would only be able to respond on Monday.