Relative calm reported in South Africa's violence-ravaged areas

Relative calm was reported in areas ravaged by xenophobia violence over the past few days, police said on Saturday.

Although looting was reported in central Johannesburg overnight, the situation in the area seemed to be under control, residents said.

A large contingent of heavily-armed police force was seen patrolling the area where shops remained closed and streets scattered with burned tyres and rocks.

But foreigners in groups were still going to police stations to seek protection.

"It looks as if looting was not rampant as days ago, but I'm still afraid that those bad guys will come to attack us again," said a Somali who only identified himself as Lumbo.

"Police stations are the best places for protection," he added.

Authorities in Gauteng Province have set up disaster management centres in all its metros to help people in distress.

The number of people seeking refuge in Johannesburg is estimated at several hundreds.

In Durban, thousands of displaced foreigners are housed in three camps.

Johannesburg and Duran are the most hard hit areas by the latest spate of xenophobia violence.

Six people have been killed and hundreds of foreign-owned shops looted or damaged.

The South African government has assured that everything be done to curb the violence.

South African Minister of Foreign Relations and Cooperation Mait Nkoana-Mashabane told African Ambassadors on Friday that her government has provided shelters and other needs for those foreigners already displayed by the attacks.

"Additional law enforcement officers have been mobilized from around the country and deployed to the affected areas to enforce the law and prevent further attacks," said Nkoana-Mashabane.

Despite the pledge, some African countries are already beginning to repatriate their citizens.

Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa Isaac Moyo said Zimbabwe would on Sunday start repatriating about 1,000 Zimbabweans affected by the attacks in Durban.

The Malawi government has also started its repatriation process.

President Jacob Zuma will visit the displaced foreign nationals in Chatsworth in Durban later Saturday, according to the Presidency.

Zuma has cancelled his visit to Indonesia in order to attend to matters at home relating to the attacks on foreign nationals, the Presidency said.

Zuma was due to leave for Indonesia Saturday evening for a state visit and to attend the Africa-Asia Summit and the commemoration of the historic summit in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 which brought together Africa and Asia to push forward the struggle for liberation and self-determination. Endi