Anti-foreigner violence in South Africa

Violence against immigrants in South Africa has killed at least seven people, and left hundreds unable to stay in their homes. The attacks stem from a perception that immigrants, many from other African countries, are taking jobs at the expense of South Africans in a country with high unemployment. The violence recalls similar unrest in South Africa in 2008 in which 60 people died.

A child runs past burning tires during xenophic violence in the Jeppestown area of central Johannesburg, April 17, 2015.

South African military deployed

A South African soldier patrols in Jeppestown during a joint South African police and South African army raid in Johannesburg, April 21, 2015.

South African soldiers deployed overnight to tackle gangs hunting down and killing foreigners after at least seven people died in a wave of anti-immigrant violence.

Suspected killers

Men suspected of killing Mozambican national Emmanuel Sithole in Alexandra township in an apparent xenophobic attack, cover their faces as they are arraigned at the Wynberg Magistrate Court in Johannesburg, April 21, 2015.

Sithole was walking down a street when four South Africans attacked him. His attackers used a wrench and knives to bludgeon Sithole. A photographer, James Oatway, caught the scene with his camera. Oatway and another journalist helped the injured man get to a hospital, where he later died.

Jeppie hostels raided

South African Police officers and troops of the South African Defence Force SADF raid the Jeppie hostels, in the Jeppestown district of Johannesburg late on April 21, 2015.

South African soldiers have been deployed to tackle gangs hunting down and killing foreigners, officials said today, after at least seven people died in a wave of anti-immigrant violence.

Aulu hostel residents

Zulu hostel dwellers stand on the staircase during a joint South African Police and South African army raid in Johannesburg, April 21, 2015.

South African soldiers deployed overnight to tackle gangs hunting down and killing foreigners after at least seven people died in a wave of anti-immigrant violence.

Jeppie hostels raided

South African Police officers and troops of the South African Defence Force SADF raid the Jeppie hostels, in the Jeppestown district of Johannesburg late on April 21, 2015.

Taking refuge

A child looks through a car window in a camp where displaced people who fled the anti-immigrant violence took refugee in the village of Primrose, 15 kms (9.3 miles) east of Johannesburg, April 19, 2015.

Police patrols

South African policemen patrol during a standoff with looters on the National Highway in Johannesburg as looting of foreign-owned shops and xenophobic attacks escalated, April 18, 2015.

South African police detained more than 30 people overnight on April 17 as xenophobic violence simmered around Johannesburg.

Displaced by violence

Displaced people who fled anti-immigrant violence live in a camp in the village of Primrose, nine miles east of Johannesburg, April 19, 2015.

The government stepped up its response to unrest in Johannesburg and the eastern coastal city of Durban with Home Minister Malusi Gigaba resolving to end "all acts that seek to plunge our country into anarchy," April 19, 2015.

Rock throwing

A man holds a brick in his hand close to the Jeppie hostels in the Jeppestown area of Johannesburg, April 17, 2015.

Twelve people were arrested overnight as anti-foreigner attacks in South Africa spread to parts of downtown Johannesburg, police said. It was the latest incident in a wave of immigrant-targeted violence that began earlier this month in the port city of Durban, leaving at least seven people dead.

Burnt car

South African Policemen push a burnt car out of the as a group of angry Zulu protestors demonstrate against foreign migrants outside their hostel in the Jeppestown district of Johannesburg, April 17, 2015.

Johannesburg

A local taxi driver is pushed around during a confrontation with foreign nationals in the Johannesburg Central Business District, April 15, 2015.

Anti-riot police

A South African anti-riot police officer frisks a man as he raids the kitchen area of a hostel in Benoni, where local residents are suspected of having protested against foreign-owned shops in the area, throwing stones at trucks bringing supplies to the shops, and forcing them to shut down, April 16, 2015.

People return to Malawi

Foreign men from Malawi queue to board buses from a camp for those affected by anti-immigrant violence in Chatsworth north of Durban, April 18, 2015.

South African President Jacob Zuma canceled a state visit to Indonesia on Saturday to deal with a wave of anti-immigrant violence at home and promised peace to those who wished to remain in Africa's most advanced economy.

Zimbabweans leave South Africa

Foreigners from Zimbabwe carry their bags to board a bus home from a camp for those affected by anti-immigrant violence in Chatsworth, north of Durban April 19, 2015.

The attacks on immigrant-owned shops and homes in Durban's impoverished townships comes three months after a similar spate of attacks on foreign-owned shops in Soweto, near Johannesburg.

President Jacob Zuma visits camp

A member of the South African Police Services (SAPS) watches as hundreds of foreign nationals queue to listen to South African President Jacob Zuma at a temporary refugee camp in Chatsworth, south of Durban, April 18, 2015.

The South African President's visit was marked by hostility from foreign nationals chanting "Go home, go home" and "too late, too late".

The government scrambled to respond to xenophobic violence in Johannesburg and in the eastern port city of Durban that erupted earlier in the week, claiming at least seven lives and forcing more than 5,000 foreigners to seek refuge in makeshift camps. The attacks on immigrant-owned shops and homes in Durban's impoverished townships comes three months after a similar spate of attacks on foreign-owned shops in Soweto, near Johannesburg.

President Jacob Zuma visits camp

A foreign man holds a sign before South african President Jacob Zuma addresses a camp for those affected by anti-immigrant violence in Chatsworth, north of Durban, April 18, 2015.

South African President Jacob Zuma

South African President Jacob Zuma visits a camp for people fleeing anti-immigrant violence in Chatsworth north of Durban, April 18, 2015.

Zuma canceled a state visit to Indonesia to deal with the wave of anti-immigrant violence and promised peace to those who wished to remain in Africa's most advanced economy.

Immigrants return to Zimbabwe

Foreigners look on as people board a bus for Zimbabwe at a camp for those affected by anti-immigrant violence in Chatsworth, north of Durban, April 19, 2015.

Seeking refuge

Displaced people, who fled the anti-immigrant violence in Johannesburg, stand in a camp in Primrose, April 19, 2015.

The spate of attacks on foreigners in South Africa that has claimed the lives of at least seven people is chillingly reminiscent of even deadlier violence in 2008 that killed 62 and sent thousands seeking refuge.

Zimbabweans leave South Africa

Foreign men from Zimbabwe queue to register with officials in a bid to return home at a camp for those affected by anti-immigrant violence in Chatsworth, north of Durban, April 18, 2015.

Xenophobia

A group of foreign nationals threaten to defend themselves as police get between them and South Africans after a peace march in Durban, April 16, 2015.

Xenophobia

People look on as police disperse a group of foreign nationals after a peace march in Durban, April 16, 2015.

Xenophobia

Zimbabweans hold a demonstration against recent anti-immigrant violence in South Africa outside the South African Embassy in Harare, April 17, 2015.

South Africa sought diplomatic support from countries across the continent on Friday to defeat the "demon" of anti-immigrant violence in which at least five people have been killed over the past fortnight.

Xenophobia

A man looks out of a hostel window as a police officer walks past in Johannesburg, April 17, 2015.

Foreign nationals have complained that the South African police are failing to protect them, raising the prospect of a row between Pretoria and its neighbors, as well as stirring hostility to South Africans working abroad.

Xenophobia

Hundreds of people participate in a peace march after anti-immigrant violence flared in Durban, April 16, 2015.

Xenophobia

A local gestures as he holds a stick and a shield outside a hostel during anti-immigrant related violence in Johannesburg, April 17, 2015.

Xenophobia

Police encourage a group of foreign nationals to move back to their homes after a peace march in Durban, April 16, 2015.

Xenophobia

Police officers walk past a car that was burnt overnight in Johannesburg, April 17, 2015.

Xenophobia

Children play amongst the remnants of a fridge in front of a looted store which is owned by foreigners in KwaMashu, north of Durban, April 13, 2015.

Several hundred foreign nationals have fled their homes and businesses from xenophobia driven violence.

Xenophobia

Hundreds of people participate in a peace march after anti-immigrant violence flared in Durban, April 16, 2015.

Xenophobia

Hundreds of people participate in a peace march after anti-immigrant violence flared in Durban, April 16, 2015.

At least five people have been killed in a wave of anti-immigrant violence that started two weeks ago in Durban, a key port on South Africa's Indian Ocean coast.

Xenophobia

Police disperse a group of foreign nationals after a peace march in Durban, April 16, 2015.

South Africa has been hit by a wave of violence against immigrants in the last two weeks. The foreigners have complained about a lack of protection and some have started to arm themselves.

Xenophobia

An immigrant feeds his young child in Isipingo, south of Durban, April 13, 2015.

Several hundred foreign nationals have sought refuge in the tents after xenophobia driven violence forced them to flee their homes and businesses.

Xenophobia

Police officers leave after searching a hostel in Actonville, east of Johannesburg, April 16, 2015.

South African police fired rubber bullets and tear gas on Thursday to disperse a crowd of anti-immigrant protesters in an eastern suburb of Johannesburg, the country's biggest commercial city, a Reuters witness said.