Inflammatory posts are currently being made by South Africans and foreign nationals against each other on social media.

These posts have been escalating since the recent attacks on homes and property occupied by foreign nationals in Johannesburg and Tshwane.

Dozens of shops and properties owned by foreigners have been targeted in Atteridgeville, Mamelodi, Pretoria West and Rosettenville this month, raising concerns of a flare-up in xenophobic violence.

Residents claim they were targeted over allegations of drug trafficking and prostitution.

JCPS Cluster spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said these comments can incite the public to commit acts of violence.

“There is no place in our constitutional democracy for citizens and/or foreign nationals to take the law into their own hands and incite violence. Communities and individuals who feel threatened should follow lawful channels to express their concerns,” Dlamini said on Tuesday.

“In this 20th year of our democratic Constitution, we remain committed to building a society that is based on democratic values of social justice, human dignity, equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms, non-racialism and non-sexism.”

The Cluster assured all people, including citizens and foreign nationals, that the security agencies are aware of the threats.

“Security measures have been put in place to mitigate against any potential threat.”