A Tanzanian businessman living in the South African city of Johannesburg has told the BBC Swahili service that it is very dangerous for foreign nationals to travel around at the moment because of the continuing hostility towards foreign nationals.
“The situation is really bad, there is no security,” said Yusuph Omar, who has living in South Africa for five years.
“People are being beaten and properties burned.”
Locals were targeting guesthouses – where some migrants live – and car-sale yards were being burned and looted, he added.
Read:Nearly 300 arrested in South Africa over xenophobic attacks
However, Mr Omar said it was the Nigerians who were mainly being targeted as South Africans allege they are involved in criminal activities.
“It is not easy to distinguish who is from Nigeria or another country, all foreigners here are left in fear,” he said.
Hostility towards African migrants is not uncommon in South Africa, where unemployment is high and locals accuse them of taking their jobs.
Read:Nearly 300 arrested in South Africa over xenophobic attacks
But Mr Omar said that in his opinion foreigners tended to work harder than South Africans.
Other African governments have been expressing fears this week for their citizens living in South Africa.
Many of the shops that have been looted belong to foreigners
On Wednesday, Jean Kamau, Kenya’s high commissioner to South Africa, confirmed that Kenyans were among the victims of arson and looting. Several Kenyans had also been attacked in Gauteng province, she said.
Source:Â bbc.com