A large contingent of police force was deployed in central Johannesburg on Friday to curb ongoing xenophobia violence, authorities said.

This came after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse rioters in the area, a fresh hotbed of xenophobia violence following similar acts of violence in Durban, KwaZulu- Natal Province.

The rioters threw stones and rocks at police and passing vehicles, prompting police units to ask for reinforcement.

A number of foreign-owned shops have been looted since violence erupted on Wednesday in central Johannesburg.

Since Wednesday, police have arrested a total of 18 people for malicious damage to property, said Theko Pharasi, Deputy Police Commissioner of Gauteng Province.

He told reporters that more police officers have been deployed to make sure that all corners of the province be protected.

In a related development, State Security Minister David Mahlobo said he suspected the attacks on foreign nationals were part of a "co-ordinated effort".

A warning forecasting the violence was spread last night through SMS, saying rioters were heading towards Johannesburg by train.

Also on Friday, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said the government will do everything within its power to ensure the safety of all citizens.

South African President Jacob Zuma also announced the deployment of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops as violence spread from the eastern port city of Durban to Pietermaritzburg and the inland financial hub of Johannesburg.

He said the SANDF would transfer 350 soldiers to work as immigration officers at border posts. "Furthermore, the SANDF has deployed military personnel along the borderline in seven provinces to prevent border crime activities and illegal border crossings".

African countries have expressed concerns over the escalating situation and made plans to evacuate their nationals from South Africa. The regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States, also urged the South African government to act quickly to stop the violence.

Despite these efforts and appeals, violence against foreigners continued in parts of South Africa.

At least five people have been killed, thousands displaced and extensive property destroyed in the latest wave of xenophobic violence, after a March 20 speech in which tribal Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini said foreigners should leave the country.

Most of the targets in South Africa have been Mozambicans, Malawians, Zimbabweans, Somalis, Congolese and Nigerians. An April 16 march against xenophobia in Durban, attended by up to 20,000 people, did little to stop the simmering tensions.

The worst flare-up of xenophobic violence in South Africa occurred in May 2008, when more than 60 people were killed in attacks across the country. Simmering hostilities boiled over on several occasions since then, most recently in January 2015.

Since 2008 there has been no successful prosecution on anyone for a crime directly linked to xenophobia in South Africa.

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