The violence and looting against foreign nationals has been going on since Sunday evening in Johannesburg and Pretoria. South African police confirm at least five people have died and over a hundred people have been arrested so far, reports the AP.

The attacks have occurred mainly in foreign-owned stores and companies, which has forced many to stay closed afterwards due to fear of new attacks.

The President: "Totally unacceptable"

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday that this is "totally unacceptable".

- I want this to be stopped immediately, he says.

- We are a country that is completely committed to xenophobia. We do not allow and tolerate attacks against people from other African countries, ”says Ramaphosa.

African countries warn

On Monday, several African governments expressed their frustration over the recent wave of attacks on foreign-owned companies. They warned their citizens in South Africa that they should take security measures.

The Ethiopian Embassy in South Africa advised its citizens to close their stores "until calm is back". Zambia's Ministry of Transport and Communications warned Zambian truck drivers not to enter the country.

Police Minister: Not xenophobia

However, South African Police Minister Bheki Cele says it is about crime rather than xenophobia, according to the BBC.

- Xenophobia is used as an excuse. Nothing has led to any kind of conflict between South Africans and foreign nationals, he says.