KoViolent Xenophobic attacks have broken out in the area of Phola, Joe Slovo and Thokoza informal settlements starting on Tuesday night.

Foreigners were chased out of shacks and RDP houses and foreign owned spaza shops were looted and burnt.

Foreigners who were renting back rooms were flung out and chased out. Mthokozisi Gumede (23) from Zimbabwe, told the Sowetan that the mobs burnt his clothes, stole his TV and Fridge. He had to sleep at a filling station with his child and wife.

A church, Victory Tabernacle Christian Church and a school, St Anthony Education Centre, were burnt.

Police and military who responded to the attacks were outnumbered by the mobs.

Locals who spoke to the press said foreigners should leave and should have been taken back to their countries when the lockdown started.

20 people have been arrested so far for the violence.