– Anger over jobs –
Immigrants are often the focus of resentment among locals hit by a chronic jobs shortage and lack of opportunities for many in the impoverished black majority.
South Africa’s economy grew by just 1.5 percent last year and unemployment is at around 25 percent – soaring to over 50 percent among young people.
President Jacob Zuma moved to counter accusations of ignoring the attacks, which have provoked protests from African countries whose citizens have been targeted.
“Millions of South Africans condemn these atrocious killings and abhor xenophobia and all related intolerances,” he said in a statement released on Monday.
“Together we must work harder to root out violence and hatred in our society.” READ: S. Africa vows crackdown against anti-immigrant attacks
Zuma, who cancelled a trip to Indonesia due to the unrest, will hold special meetings this week over migration policy, refugee rights and asylum seekers, his office said.
Several thousand immigrants have been forced from their homes and are staying in camps, while Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique have organised for some of their citizens living in fear in South Africa to return home.
Zimbabwe has about one million mostly illegal immigrants in South Africa, many of them working in the service sector, on construction sites and as casual labour.
In Malawi, six buses carrying citizens were expected to arrive home from South Africa late Monday or Tuesday.
Scores of Nigerian protesters gathered in Lagos outside the South African visa office, carrying placards reading “We Say No To Killing of Our Brothers in South Africa.”
Fearing revenge attacks, the Irish mining firm Kenmare Resources said Monday it had repatriated 62 South African workers from its titanium mine in Mozambique.
“Unrest regarding foreign workers in South Africa… has recently created reciprocal unrest concerning South Africans working in Mozambique,” the company said in a statement.
South Africa has been keen to calm foreign investors’ fears, stressing that the police are capable of ensuring safety.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said most victims of the xenophobic attacks were refugees forced to leave their own countries due to war and persecution.
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