Xenophobia like apartheid - ANC

Xenophobia is no different from apartheid racism, the ANC in Gauteng said on Wednesday.

This followed a meeting of the party's provincial executive committee where it received reports from its structures in the areas affected by the violence.

Spokesperson Nkenke Kekana said the party had distributed two million pamphlets calling for an end to the violence.

"We are also calling for vigilance and a return to normality in the affected areas... the pamphlets further seek to educate people about the danger of xenophobia," he said.

The party expressed concern about the humanitarian situation arising at police stations in the affected areas where many foreigners have flocked to seek safety.

Police said 42 people had been killed, 16 000 people had been displaced since the violence began in Alexandra, and 400 people had been arrested.