President Jacob Zuma has condemned a spate of attacks on foreigners, calling it "shocking and unacceptable".
Addressing the nation in Parliament on Thursday, he said no amount of frustration or anger could ever justify the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops.
He emphasised that while some foreign nationals had been arrested for various crimes, it was misleading and wrong to label or regard all foreigners as being involved in crime.
Zuma's statement was in light of a spate of xenophobic attacks that began in townships around Durban last week and spread to Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg.
At least five people have been killed and scores injured.
Zuma appealed for calm and said that any problems or issues of concern to South African citizens must be resolved peacefully and through dialogue.
"We urge all of you to exercise calm and restraint. We also urge those who use social media to refrain from fanning flames of violence on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms." said Zuma.
