Feature: Ordeal for foreigners as xenophobia violence rages in S. Africa

As xenophobia violence escalated in parts of South Africa, more and more foreigners have fled the affected areas to places they think are safe.

A 34-year-old Malawian woman was among those who fled to Johannesburg.

Chemwari Chilomo told Xinhua that she was forced to flee her home in Chatsworth, Durban in the middle of the night earlier this week after a group of men threatened to take her life if she resisted moving out.

Narrating her ordeal, Chilomo said she walked about 15 km in the middle of the night trying to get transport to Johannesburg. "I was picked up by a good Samaritan. After telling him my story, the driver did not ask me to pay for the transport-fare," she said in tears.

Chilomo, who had lived in Chatsworth for six years, said she was luck to survive the attack. "I left everything I worked for over the past years. I only took my children and left my home before they could kill me," she said pointing to a television set, a DVD player, and loudspeakers - the only things she now possesses.

With a three-year-old son strapped on her back, Chilomo said she doesn't know where her husband was after he was taken away by a mob of men.

"I'm worried about my husband as the attack on foreigner rages on."

Chilomo said the ongoing attacks reminded her of the xenophobia attacks in 2008 during which over 60 people were killed and hundreds of others injured.

She said she welcomed her government's intention to repatriate Malawi nationals residing in South Africa.

The Malawi and Somali governments have this week indicated their intention to repatriate their citizen from South Africa due to the ongoing attacks on foreigners in areas around Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Many foreigners blame Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini for uttering anti-foreign statements that sparked the violence.

King Zwelithini told his subordinates earlier, "We ask foreigners to pack their belongings and go back to their countries. "

Amid the attacks on foreigners, Edward Zuma, son of President Jacob Zuma, did not hide his hatred for foreign nationals.

He on Tuesday voiced support for the king and said he is the president's son but his opinions were independent to those of the president.

"These are my personal views and I am sticking to what I said and I will die with it," he was quoted by News24 as saying.

Meanwhile, Dr Gwinyai Gzinesa, an international relations lecturer at the University of Rhodes, told Xinhua that the attack on African nationals could put South Africa in the bad light, and investors may shun South Africa.

He said violence against foreigners in township areas was a clear indication of competition among small to medium businesses.

"It's important that the South African government lures big business to invest and provide jobs," he said.

Human rights and gender activist Elinor Sisulu concurred with Dzinesa, saying South Africa businesses operating in African countries are expected to feel the resentment from xenophobic attacks.

In a telephone interview, police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said at least 2,000 foreigners - most of them from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Mozambique have been forced to leave their homes since the new spate of violence erupted on March 25.

At least six people reportedly have been killed and hundreds of foreign-owned shops and homes have been vandalised and looted.

Nearly 50 people have been arrested for suspected involvement in acts of violence, police said. Endi