Anti-immigrant violence has spread to South Africa's second largest city, Cape Town, where mobs attacked Somalis and Zimbabweans and looted their homes and shops.
Hundreds of African migrants were evacuated overnight from a squatter camp near Cape Town, the hub of South Africa's prized tourism industry. Somali-owned shops also were looted in Knysna, a resort town on the southwestern coast.
Police make arrests during an outbreak of anti-foreigner violence in Cape Town's Khayelitsha township
"We don't know the exact number of shops looted and burnt, but it's a lot," said Billy Jones, senior superintendent with the Western Cape provincial police. He added that one Somali died overnight but it was unclear whether the death was linked to the attacks.
At least 42 people have been killed and more than 25,000 driven from their homes in 12 days of attacks by mobs that accuse African migrants of taking jobs and fuelling crime. More than 500 people have been arrested.
The unrest began in Johannesburg area townships but has spread to other provinces. Authorities said a Malawian man was shot in Durban overnight and three other foreigners were stabbed in a separate attack in North West Province.
Police expect more attacks over the weekend and said they would seek additional assistance from the military if necessary.
Troops have joined police in operations in Johannesburg's seething shantytowns. President Thabo Mbeki approved army intervention to quell unrest that has threatened to destabilize Africa's largest economy.
The South African currency fell sharply earlier this week on the back of the violence. The rand was slightly firmer today at 7.6650 to the US dollar.
The violence comes amid power shortages and growing disaffection over Mr Mbeki's pro-business policies. Soaring food and fuel prices helped push tensions between poor South Africans and immigrants to a breaking point. The attacks have also sent a chill through the business community.
Officials in the tourism industry, a cornerstone of the economy, are worried overseas visitors will avoid the country. A number of Western governments have issued travel warnings for South Africa, and tour companies report rising cancellations.
Nearly one million South Africans earn their living from tourism, which accounts for eight per cent of the country's GDP. The country is hoping to draw an additional half a million tourists for the 2010 soccer World Cup.
South Africa had attracted millions of African immigrants with the prospect of work in its booming economy and an immigration and asylum policy that was considered one of the most liberal in the world. That reputation is now in tatters.
Thousands of African migrants have chosen to return home.
Malawi said today it had started to evacuate more than 850 of its citizens threatened by the attacks in South Africa.
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said yesterday that officials in his Movement for Democratic Change would help arrange transportation for refugees who wanted to go home to Zimbabwe.
There are an estimated three million Zimbabweans in South Africa, making them the biggest group among some five million immigrants in a country with an estimated 50 million people.