Some of the estimated 10 000 people march during a anti xenophobia peace march after recent xenophobia attacks by South African's on foreigners living in the port town left scores dead, Durban, South Africa, 16 April 2015. [Photo/IC]

The cabinet said South Africa fought against colonialism and Apartheid alongside fellow Africans so that "all humanity in our continent should be respected and treated with dignity."

In apartheid times, fellow African countries did not only host South African people, they also contributed resources and some paid the ultimate price and lost their own citizens in the course of South Africa attaining democracy, said the statement.

The current spate of xenophobia violence mainly affects Durban and Johannesburg. According to official figures, five people have been killed and thousands of immigrants displaced.

The impact of these attacks has far reaching implications on South Africa's economic, social and relations with the continent and the world, said the statement.

South African companies which are running successful businesses in the continent may suffer the same fate, the statement said.

South African President Jacob Zuma has tasked ministers in charge of security and trade to engage all the relevant parties to seek a solution.

The ministers have also been tasked to deal with the underlying socioeconomic conditions which seems to be at the heart of these attacks, so that this matter can be dealt with decisively and comprehensively, said the statement.