Update (September 12, 2019): More than 600 Nigerians are getting airlifted out of South Africa after a week of escalating xenophobic attacks.

According to Al Jazeera, 189 Nigerians flew out on Wednesday, and a second flight is scheduled to depart on Thursday.

Air Peace, a private Nigerian airline, arranged to fly the citizens back to Lagos free of cost, Al Jazeera reported.

The violence in South Africa started after a building caught fire in the country's central business district. Three people were killed when the structure collapsed, according to Al Jazeera. 

The unrest continued into the suburbs and Pretoria, the capital of the country. Local media reported several businesses were torched in Marabastad, a business district with a large number of immigrants.

On Monday, the police deployed tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to stop the chaos. At least five people died, and dozens were arrested.

Many of the targeted migrants come from other African countries including Nigeria, Ethiopia and Zambia.

BBC reported Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, condemned the violence on Tuesday.

"There can be no justification for any South African to attack people from other countries," Ramaphosa said.

He said the attacks on businesses owned by "foreign nationals is something totally unacceptable, something that we cannot allow to happen in South Africa."

"I want it to stop immediately," Ramaphosa demanded.

Nigeria's government decried the attacks against its citizens, according to Bloomberg. Nigeria's President  Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to travel to South Africa for a state visit in October.

"The continuing attacks on Nigerian nationals and businesses in South Africa are unacceptable," the Nigerian government tweeted. "Enough is enough. Nigeria will take definitive measures to ensure safety and protection of her citizens."

Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria's foreign affairs minister, also expressed his feelings.

"Received sickening and depressing news of continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in #SouthAfrica by mindless criminals with ineffective police protection," he tweeted. "Enough is enough. We will take definitive measures."

Zambia also criticized the rioters and confirmed its officials were in contact with South Africa's government.

"It is barbaric to attack people simply because they are foreigners, it is not acceptable," said Chanda Kasolo, secretary of Zambia's information ministry. "Our leaders are doing everything possible to communicate with the South African government to ask them to take better control of things."

The nation also warned its truck drivers to stay out of South Africa. Zambian drivers who are already in South Africa were told to park until order is restored.

Law enforcement blamed the violence on criminals instead of xenophobia.

"Xenophobia is just an excuse that is being used by people to commit criminal acts," South African Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Monday. "It is not xenophobia, but pure criminality."

"They are just criminals who are looting and taking advantage of the situation," said police spokesman Lungelo Dlamini.

The unrest coincides with the South African truck drivers' strike over the hiring of foreign drivers. Sipho Zungu, chairman of the All Truck Drivers Foundation, said his group did not participate in the protest; however, he understands their frustration.

"People of South Africa are hungry. They are sitting at home," Zungu explained. "While companies in South Africa are employing foreigners … [because] its cheap labor. We are hungry and angry."

Original: A wave of bigotry toward foreigners swept through South Africa.

The violence started on Sunday after a building caught fire in the country's central business district. Three people were killed when the structure collapsed, according to Al Jazeera. The unrest continued into the suburbs and Pretoria, the capital of the country. Local media reported several businesses were torched in Marabastad, a business district with a large number of immigrants.

On Monday, the police deployed tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to stop the chaos. At least five people died, and dozens were arrested.

Many of the targeted migrants come from other African countries including Nigeria, Ethiopia and Zambia.

BBC reported Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, condemned the violence on Tuesday.

"There can be no justification for any South African to attack people from other countries," Ramaphosa said.

He said the attacks on businesses owned by "foreign nationals is something totally unacceptable, something that we cannot allow to happen in South Africa."

"I want it to stop immediately," Ramaphosa demanded.

Nigeria's government decried the attacks against its citizens, according to Bloomberg. Nigeria's president, Muhammadu Buhari, is scheduled to travel to South Africa for a state visit in October.

"The continuing attacks on Nigerian nationals and businesses in South Africa are unacceptable," the Nigerian government tweeted. "Enough is enough. Nigeria will take definitive measures to ensure safety and protection of her citizens."

Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria's foreign minister, also expressed his feelings.

"Received sickening and depressing news of continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in #SouthAfrica by mindless criminals with ineffective police protection," he tweeted. "Enough is enough. We will take definitive measures."

Zambia also criticized the rioters, and confirmed its officials were in contact with South Africa's government.

"It is barbaric to attack people simply because they are foreigners, it is not acceptable," said Chanda Kasolo, secretary of Zambia's information ministry. "Our leaders are doing everything possible to communicate with the South African government to ask them to take better control of things."

The nation also warned its truck drivers to stay out of South Africa. Zambian drivers who are already in South Africa were told to park until order is restored.

Law enforcement blamed the violence on criminals instead of xenophobia.

"Xenophobia is just an excuse that is being used by people to commit criminal acts," South African Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Monday. "It is not xenophobia, but pure criminality."

"They are just criminals who are looting and taking advantage of the situation," said police spokesman Lungelo Dlamini.

The unrest coincides with the South African truck drivers' strike over the hiring of foreign drivers. Sipho Zungu, chairman of the All Truck Drivers Foundation, said his group did not participate in the protest; however, he understands their frustration.

"People of South Africa are hungry. They are sitting at home," Zungu explained. "While companies in South Africa are employing foreigners … [because] its cheap labor. We are hungry and angry."

Cyril-RamaphobaSouth-AfricaXenophobia