Well-known traditional leader and chairperson of Contralesa in the Vhembe District Vho Thovhele Midiyavhathu Tshivhase made a passionate plea to all South Africans to stop the spiraling violence and attacks on foreign nationals that have claimed many lives so far.

In an interview with Mirror this week, Tshivhase said it was time that South Africans came to their senses and thought about their African brothers and took them as their real brothers. Tshivhase said it was very shameful of South Africans to be fighting fellow Africans as if they were from another planet.

"We are all related and only some boundaries divide us. We have many Venda-speaking people in Zimbabwe and many Shangaan speakers in Mozambique and they are all living in harmony with each other, treating each other as brothers and sisters. Why all this now; what message are we sending to the whole world?" he asked.

He said traditional leaders always preach peace and happiness amongst communities and what is happening now is against the spirit of ubuntu. He said they have been staying with these people for a long time and nothing of the sort has ever happened. "This is pure thuggery and criminals are now taking advantage of the situation, looting and killing fellow Africans out of greed. We condemn this with all the vigor it deserves," he said.

Tshivhase added that all the violence and attacks taking place have the potential of overshadowing all the gains of the newly found democracy and of repelling investors.

Tshivhase said all the violence was happening against the backdrop of these people having run from their mother countries because of the violence that is taking place there. "They are being killed in their home countries and they come here, to be met by more violence and deaths. Where should they run to now? Let us all give them the necessary support in order that they feel welcome," he said.