Johannesburg: At least one man was killed after South African soldiers shot him during operations to stop anti-immigrant violence east of Johannesburg, the army said on Saturday.

Army spokesman General Kwena Mangope said the man pointed a firearm at a soldier after he was confronted for allegedly assaulting a woman. The man was shot dead.

Troops continued to arrest armed youths around the city on Saturday, amid violence against foreigners that residents blame for rising crime rates and low job opportunities.

The anti-foreigner violence has spread to Cape Town and at least 200 soldiers have been deployed to support police in quelling the violence.

South Africa's deputy president apologised for the violence on Friday.

"We are very much concerned and apologise for all the inconveniences that the incidents have caused," said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said.

"We reject the notion that some of the people who are living in South Africa who are not South Africans can be blamed for the problems that we have," he said.
 
At least 43 people have been killed and more than 25,000 left homeless after twelve days of violence against foreigners. Homes and shops, most of them belonging to Somalis and Zimbabweans, have been looted.