Xenophobia: 10 killed in South Africa, 423 arrested

President Ramaphosa says two foreigners were killed in the wave of violence but failed to reveal their nationalities.

The South African government has announced that at least 10 people were killed in a wave of violence that has enveloped the country for days.

Local mobs, mostly in Johannesburg, had commenced on a vandalisation and looting spree on Sunday, September 1, 2019, targeting foreign-owned businesses in attacks that have been tinged with xenophobic sentiments.

The attacks have lasted well into the week and are believed to still be ongoing as at Thursday, September 5, although on a smaller scale.

The scene of a looted shop where a charred body was found in Johannesburg on September 4, 2019 [Michele Spatari/AFP/Getty Images] Pulse Nigeria

Many countries across Africa, especially Nigeria, have condemned the wave of violence and called on the government to find a lasting solution to frequent xenophobic attacks on fellow Africans.

During a national address on Thursday, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said two of those killed since Sunday are foreigners, but he failed to disclose their nationalities.

"We know that at least 10 people have been killed in this violence, two of whom were foreign nationals," he said.

Ramaphosa further disclosed that at least 423 people have been arrested for violence-related offences in Gauteng since Sunday.

21 others were arrested in relation to truck violence in KwaZulu-Natal believed to also have targeted foreign truck drivers.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa [AFP] AFP

The president said there's absolutely no justification for the acts of destruction, criminality, and intolerance of foreigners residing or doing business in the country.

"I am calling upon each one of us to desist from fuelling a climate of fear and confusion," he appealed.

He promised that the South African criminal justice system will promptly deal with perpetrators of the violence, looting and lawlessness that has engulfed the country for days.

He also called on everyone to work together to end the cycle of violence in the country, including the ones against women and children, and build a new South Africa.