Zulu king condemns attacks on immigrants in South Africa

Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini on Monday joined calls for an end to attacks against immigrants as South Africa's leaders rallied to halt xenophobic violence.

At least seven people have been killed and thousands forced to flee their homes over the past three weeks as mobs of South Africans attacked foreigners, mostly in poor townships.

The violence first erupted in Durban, the port city in Kwazulu-Natal province. Some blamed the king after he was quoted by a local newspaper last month as saying foreigners were taking economic opportunities away from South Africans and should return home. The king insisted that his speech, given in IsiZulu, had been misinterpreted but the attacks escalated around Durban and spread to Johannesburg, the commercial capital.

King Goodwill urged thousands of Zulus gathered at a stadium in Durban on Monday to stop the attacks, saying he had called the meeting to wage a war to protect foreigners.

"I'm saying to you Zulu people, peace must be first and foremost," the king said. "When we see people violating the rule of law, we must ensure these people are brought to book."

But there was a tone of defiance in the king's address as he lashed out at the media, which he blamed for distorting his words, and said a "third force" could be behind the attacks.

South Africa is estimated to be home to up to 5m immigrants, many from poorer neighbouring countries who travelled to Africa's most advanced economy in search of a better life.

As well as running informal shops, thousands work in the mining sector and as domestic workers.

Many of those attacked operate shops in townships and the violence has been blamed, in part, on the frustrations of poorer black South Africans, with some accusing foreigners of depriving them of jobs and business opportunities.

Twenty-one years after the country's first democratic election, South Africa remains blighted by widespread poverty and unemployment, which is particularly acute in townships.

The situation is being exacerbated by the weak economy, which has been hit by tepid growth and frequent electricity outages as Eskom, the state utility, grapples with a power crisis.

At least five people were killed earlier this year when South Africans attacked and looted hundreds of foreign-run shops in townships in and around Johannesburg. The spate of xenophobic violence has rekindled memories attacks in 2008 when more than 60 foreigners died.

It has also had ramifications beyond the country's borders and promoted concerns about reprisals against South Africans in neighbouring states.

Some 340 South Africans working on Sasol projects in Mozambique - most of whom are employees of service providers contracted by the energy group - have been temporarily repatriated as a precaution. Kenmare Resources, a Dublin-based, London-listed miner, said on Monday it had repatriated 62 South Africans working at its titanium mine in Mozambique.

South Africa's government has repeatedly condemned the attacks and set up teams of officials to quell the violence. Officials said on Sunday that 307 people had been arrested in connection with the violence.

President Jacob Zuma said on Monday: "No grievance can ever justify the cold-blooded murder of fellow human beings, the destruction of property or the displacement of hundreds of people including women and small children.

"Together we must work harder to root out violence and hatred in our society."

He cancelled a trip to Indonesia after the attacks and has visited camps set up for those who fled their homes in an attempt to reassure foreigners.

But despite government reassurances, buses have reportedly transported hundreds of fearful migrants back to countries such as Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

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