South Africa's President Jacob Zuma told the country's parliament Thursday that he condemns the wave of xenophobic violence that has hit the country over the past two weeks.
Local media reported that he called the violence — which has killed at least 5 people — as "shocking and unacceptable".
"We condemn the violence in the strongest possible terms. The attacks violate all the values that South Africa embodies, especially the respect for human life, human rights, human dignity and ubuntu," Zuma added.
"Our country stands firmly against all intolerances such as racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism."
BuzzFeed News' report on the violence from Wednesday follows below.
At least five people were killed and hundreds more forced to leave their homes in South Africa in recent days after a spate of attacks on foreigners in the country, according to local police.
The unrest is centered in and around Durban, a port-city on the country's Indian Ocean coast.
A 14-year-old boy is among the fatalities, according to local police.
"We want this message to go for the entire human race. To know that the black people from foreign Africa are being burned alive," Abdurahman Hakizimana, a Burundian living in Durban, told Reuters on Tuesday.
Police said they have made dozens of arrests.
"Seventy four arrests have been effected thus far for offenses including murder, public violence, business robbery, theft, and possession of firearms and ammunition," police said in a statement.
"Police are deployed and in high alert in most of the areas where there are foreign nationals," police colonel Jay Naicker said in an email to the Associated Press.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni called for an end to the violence.
"We once again discourage people from taking the law into their own hands and caution that those found to be breaking the law will be prosecuted," she said. "They must stop committing criminal activities and report those suspects wanted by the police for crimes that were already reported in the area."
Some South Africans believe immigrants coming from the rest of the continent are taking jobs and opportunities away from locals.
The violence observed in the last few days comes after incendiary comments made by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, an influential leader in the Zulu ethnic community, who said foreigners should "pack their bags and leave," the Guardian reported. Zwelithini is reported to have now called for an end to the unrest, claiming his comments were distorted by the media.
South African President Jacob Zuma has condemned the violence and sent several ministers to Durban on Sunday to investigate the unrest, according to a statement on his website.
"We reiterate that there can be no justification for attacking foreign nationals," Zuma said. "Those who are in the country illegally should be reported to the police and they will be returned to their countries of origin in a lawful manner. ... They should not be attacked.
"We wish to emphasize that police will also take action against all people who engage in violence, including foreign nationals as well if they attack citizens,'' said the president.