This archive report was first published on 4 September 2019.
South Africa has been gripped by a wave of xenophobic violence, resulting in the deaths of five people, with President Cyril Ramaphosa vowing to take swift action to address the situation.
According to police, the violence has been directed against foreigners, with mobs burning and looting shops in the township of Alexandra and the central business district of Johannesburg.
President Ramaphosa condemned the attacks in a video address, stating that they were 'totally unacceptable' and had 'no justification.'
He added that the violence had to stop immediately, and that the government would take all necessary measures to protect foreign nationals.
The African Union, Nigeria, and Zambia have all condemned the violence, with the African Union chairperson, Moussa Faki, expressing his strongest condemnation.
Several Nigerians have taken to social media to call for a boycott of South African companies, including MTN, DSTV, and Shoprite.
The violence has been linked to a nationwide strike by South African truckers, who began protesting against the employment of foreign drivers on Sunday.
Deputy President David Mabuza has condemned all attacks on foreign nationals, stating that South Africa was a nation founded on the values of humanity and should resist the temptation of being overwhelmed by hatred.
