JOHANNESBURG - A community activist stresses that allegations against foreign nationals must be supported by evidence.
Andile Siko warns that false claims deepen divisions and fuel hostility.
This comes as claims of misinformation and unverified claims could be fueling anger toward immigrants.
Some groups demand stricter immigration enforcement and better economic opportunities for South Africans.
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"It's very worrisome, one we are all singing a song that says all illegal immigrants must leave South Africa, and we are singing a song saying these types of informal businesses must go back to South Africans, and no foreigner should own any business of such.
"But if there is going to people who are using that and then inflicting lies onto these people, that's completely wrong, we are not condoning that," he said.
Meanwhile, in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, thousands of Malawians outside Sherwood Hall are waiting to be processed.
The group has been sleeping outside the hall after allegedly being chased from their homes.
The Malawian government has been conducting voluntary repatriations of its nationals.
It follows widespread anti-illegal immigration protests in most parts of the country.