The expected solidarity march which is to take place on Thursday will includes religious leaders and concerned citizens, comes after weeks of attacks against foreign nationals in which at least five people have been killed and 74 people arrested since the end of March, according to Colonel Jay Naicker, the police spokesperson.
Al Jazeera producer Mukelwa Hlatshwayo, reporting from the march in the coastal city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, said as many as 5,000 people had joined the prosession and that the atmosphere was calm with people ulilating and singing songs of solidarity.
Many shops remained closed in the business capital of the country, Johannesburg in the Gauteng province fearing attacks as well.
Groups of people were said to have travelled to Durban from other provinces to join in the show of solidarity with the foreign nationals.
