Somali government calls on South Africa to intervene in attacks on is citizens

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 The Somali government has called on South Africa to protect Somali nationals living in the country.

In an open letter to president Jacob Zuma, Somali prime minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon, appealed to the government to intervene as a matter of urgency.

He said the South African government must contain what he said was the unnecessary and unfortunate violence against Somali business communities to preserve peace and stability.

The appeal follows a spate of attacks on foreigners, including Somali shop owners in Diepsloot and Port Elizabeth, where one Somali national was killed in Booysens Park last week.

Dozens of people have been arrested for the attacks on Somalis in Diepsloot, while Pretoria has condemned the incidents.