The government of South Africa has pleaded with Nigeria and other nations in Africa affected by the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.
South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Emily Nkoana-Mashabane, who met with Ambassadors and High Commissioners from African countries in South Africa, noted that  "it is therefore with a deep sense of pain and regret that we as the South African Government humbled ourselves before the African diplomatic community; and we expressed, through them, our heartfelt apologies to the African continent and people for the actions of those of our citizens who have behaved in a shameful manner".
"In the new Constitution of our free and democratic South Africa, we made a promise to ourselves and to the world that we would remain committed to the values of human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms, non-racialism, non-sexism and the rule of law".
"Furthermore, at the core of our foreign policy is the commitment we have made to the world that we will always prioritise Africa in all our endeavours because we are an integral part of the African continent".
"South Africa's transition to democracy was one of the world's most iconic testimonies of tolerance and peaceful co-existence, " she stressed.
She assured that as directed by President Jacob Zuma, the South African Government is implementing a series of measures aimed at bringing an immediate halt to all the violence, looting and displacement of individuals and families, adding that practical measures are being taken by the security agencies to bring to justice those who are responsible for the violence and related criminal acts.
"The South African Government will also do everything within its power to ensure the safety of all citizens and foreign nationals irrespective of their status. South Africa is a multicultural society that welcomes and promotes interaction among people of different backgrounds," she said.
She added that South Africa will not forget the hospitality and support it received from fellow Africans during the difficult times of anti-apartheid liberation struggle in the country, stressing that it was Africa nations that opened their doors and became home for many South Africans who fled the persecution of the apartheid government.
"It is in this regard that South Africa has since the advent of democratic governance in 1994, worked cordially with fellow African countries to consolidate bilateral relations that are flourishing politically, economically and socially".
"Ubuntu is the central concept of social and political organisation in the African global outlook, consisting of the principles of sharing and caring for one another.
This is better captured in the Sepedi adage Motho ke motho ka batho, which means, generally speaking, that to be human is to affirm one's humanity by recognising the humanity of others and establish mutually respectful relations with them," she said.

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