Gauteng police said officers were monitoring tensions in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, after claims of a fresh outbreak of xenophobic violence.

Eyewitness News has learnt that Diepsloot residents were apparently mobilising to rid the area of foreigners.

Several community leaders were blaming immigrants for a spate of violent crime in the informal settlement.

Authorities said they were well aware of what they termed "rumours of imminent violence".

 “We call upon members of the community not take the law into their hands, not to attack any one but to report any criminal activity to the South African Police Service. However, we do have members of the service in the area monitoring the situation and we will respond accordingly,” said the police’s Govindsamy Mariemuthoo.