Zuma pledges to contain violence against immigrants

South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday pledged to contain violence against foreigners in the country.

"We will ensure that all our people, including foreign nationals, always feel enveloped by an abiding sense of security wherever they are in the country," Zuma said while accepting credentials from 11 foreign diplomats in Pretoria.

Zuma was speaking amid a flurry of violence directed at foreigners in parts of the country.

In the latest incident on Wednesday, rioters went on a looting rampage in Randfontein, west of Johannesburg, targeting foreign- owned shops.

This followed violent attacks on foreign-owned shops in Soweto, southwest of Johannesburg last month. During the one-week violence that spread to several nearby townships, at least six people were killed and almost 100 foreign shops were looted.

In his Friday remarks, Zuma said his government will put in place necessary measures to curb violence targeting migrants.

"In this regard, our law enforcement agencies will certainly close the net on the brazen criminality which was displayed by some unruly elements against foreign nationals in our townships a few weeks ago," Zuma added.

South Africa sees a constant stream of immigrants from neighboring countries, looking for work and an escape from poverty.

South Africa's 2011 census said there were 2.2 million foreign nationals living in the country. Endi