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Johannesburg: South Africa's government on Wednesday denied that it would set up refugee camps for tens of thousands of African migrants who fled their homes during a wave of xenophobic attacks.
The BBC reported earlier on its website that President Thabo Mbeki's government is expected to announce the decision to establish seven camps throughout the country after a cabinet meeting yesterday.
But the government said in a statement that the reports were not true.
"Government has noted with concern media reports that Cabinet has taken a decision to establish refugee camps. Government wish to put it on the record that Cabinet has not taken such a decision and that the reports are baseless and therefore not true," the statement said.
The government will make a further statement at a post-Cabinet news conference today, it said.
At least 56 people died and up to 100,000 were displaced when mobs armed with clubs, knives and stones, rampaged through shantytowns in Johannesburg, Cape Town and other parts of the country earlier this month.
The violence has subsided but there is mounting criticism of the government's response to the crisis, which has tarnished the country's image internationally and raised investor concerns about political stability within its borders.
South Africa's Home Affairs Department also denied that refugee camps would be established.
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