South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has described South Africans who violently attack other Africans in the country as ‘opportunists’. He also described such actions as “criminal acts.”

“These are the acts of opportunists who are exploiting the legitimate grievances, particularly those of the poor, under the false guise of ‘community activism’,” the South African leader wrote in a Monday statement posted on his website

Reports indicated of violent protests targeting other Black Africans in parts of South Africa. At least two Nigerians and two Ghanaians have been reported killed in such xenophobic attacks. Properties belonging to many African migrants have also been destroyed in such protests.

On Monday, this newspaper published an editorial calling on Mr Ramaphosa to act to stem the violence.

In his statement, Mr Ramaphosa said his government would clamp down on the perpetrators.

“Some of these people are assuming functions that only state officials are permitted to perform, including stopping people to check identification and conducting searches of private property. Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrators or victims are,” he wrote.