JOHANNESBURG -- Worried about their safety, hundreds of African immigrants headed out of South Africa in buses on Monday after deadly attacks on foreign-owned shops.
South Africa's anti-immigrant attacks, in which seven people have been killed this month, have angered many across the continent. South African diplomats in at least two other African countries reported threats of reprisal attacks because of the violence at home.
Activists in some African countries organized protests and called for a boycott of South African goods.
Kenmare Resources, a Dublin-based company, said it temporarily repatriated its 62 South African workers at a titanium mine in Mozambique after "reciprocal unrest" there that stemmed from the South African violence. The mine's total workforce is nearly 1,400.
The South African government should be "less reactive and more proactive" in dealing with tensions over immigrants and the country should "be a bit more humble" about its aspirations as a continental leader, said professor Chris Landsberg, an African diplomacy and foreign policy expert at the University of Johannesburg.
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, an influential figure among the Zulu ethnic group in South Africa, condemned the attacks in a speech Monday at a Durban stadium. His remarks came after allegations that he provoked violence with reported comments in which he said foreigners should go home.
President Jacob Zuma postponed a ceremony, scheduled for next week, in which the country's highest official honor is bestowed on South Africans and foreigners who have contributed to the country, his office said. The event will be postponed so South Africa can mourn the three South Africans and four foreigners who have been killed, the president's office said.
In Malawi, Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa said six buses carrying 390 Malawians from Durban were heading to Malawi and that five more buses carrying Malawians were expected to leave the city today. About 3,200 Malawians sought refuge in temporary camps, he said.
Those killed in anti-immigrant unrest included two Malawians, the government said.
About 400 Zimbabweans were also leaving South Africa, said Isaac Moyo, Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa. They traveled in six buses and a truck, Moyo said, according to Zimbabwe's Herald newspaper.
Louis Lulu Mnguni, South Africa's top diplomat in Nigeria, said his Lagos mission has warned South African citizens in Nigeria "to exercise vigilance and limit their movements" after threats of reprisal attacks.
Similarly, security was increased at the South African High Commission in Accra, Ghana, after it received threats, said Lulama Xingwana, the high commissioner.
The attacks in South Africa stem from a perception that immigrants, many from other African countries, are taking jobs at the expense of South Africans in a country with high unemployment. Many people have entered South Africa illegally, though the government has said a large number of foreign workers are there legally and are contributing to economic development.
Xingwana said the violence is particularly unfortunate because other African nations provided shelter and other aid to South African activists during the battle against white minority rule.
"The young people have forgotten the contribution of African countries to South Africa's fight against apartheid and need to be educated on this," she said.
Information for this article was contributed by Michelle Faul, Raphael Tenthani, Farai Mutsaka and Francis Kokutse of The Associated Press.
A Section on 04/21/2015