At least five people have been killed and thousands more displaced after xenophobic violence spread to parts of KwaZulu-Natal, over the past two weeks.
The latest wave of attacks on foreign nationals in the province saw clashes in Durban city centre yesterday afternoon.
One of the victims was a 14-year-old boy who was shot dead during a confrontation between security guards and a group looting foreign-owned shops yesterday afternoon.
Police warned shop owners to stay in their shops as they used stun grenades, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse the mob yesterday.
Ethiopian shop owner Aka Bob Amaha said to TimesLIVE: “Please help us. They want to kill us.”
The violence comes a month after King Goodwill Zwelithini reportedly said in his address in Pongola, that foreigners should leave South Africa.
Thousands of foreigners have been driven from their homes in Isipingo, Chatsworth, Umlazi, KwaMashu and Sydenham, and placed in transit camps in Isipingo and Chatsworth.
Dr Abdirisack Hashi, from aid group the Gift of the Givers told News24, that families they rescued would join approximately 7 000 people made up of “almost 10 different nations” living in tents provided by the KwaZulu-Natal government.
Authorities were preparing for another day of violence today, after Mahatma Gandhi road was barricaded during protests yesterday.
These incidents come after more than 60 people died during xenophobia attacks in 2008.