Johannesburg - Two men were rescued from being burnt alive in Protea Glen, Soweto, on Friday night after being accused of trying to rob a Pakistani shopkeeper, Johannesburg metro police said.

"The crowd grabbed the two and doused them with petrol,'' spokesperson Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said.

''They were about to set them alight when officers rescued them,'' said Minnaar.



A third man, allegedly part of the group of robbers, was spotted by people in the area and pointed out to police.

He was arrested for trying to rob the shop, as were the two people metro police had saved.

Minnaar said metro police and SA Police Service officers were also responding to protests in Jeppestown in the Johannesburg CBD and in Alexandria north of Johannesburg.

They also had to remove a group of protesters from both directions of the M1 freeway, a major route to Johannesbug.

The latest incidents come after six people died in attacks and running battles in KwaZulu-Natal between police, South Africans, and people who have settled in South Africa from other countries.

The Gauteng Provincial Government has set up disaster management centres in all its metros to help people in distress.

Thousands were displaced and are living in tents in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and in Johannesburg people have started going to police stations to ask for protection.

In spite of an assurances from South Africa's International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane that everything was being done to curb the violence, some African countries are already taking action to protect their citizens.

Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa Isaac Moyo said Zimbabwe would on Sunday start repatriating about 1 000 Zimbabweans affected by the attacks in Durban.



Sasol is also evacuating 340 employees and employees of contractors in Mozambique back to South Africa after Mozambican workers started protesting about violence against foreigners in South Africa.



Netcare 911 also brought two medics based in Mozambique home as a precautionary measure for the same reason.



Truck drivers for South African countries have said that their vehicles are being stoned while driving through Mozambique.

#Xenophobia Police speeding to Denver Hostel, east of #Jeppestown. Strong police presence. Reports of rock throwing.now — Sebotsa T (@inayatthabo) April 17, 2015

@MiaLindeque #Jeppestown If our Police were serious about stopping #xenophobia they would stop that tyre burning. Be Firm _Clear the Streets — Ayesha Ranchod (@AyeshaR_786) April 17, 2015

Think that SAPS must act decisively to prevent a further escalation - Perhaps arrest the trouble makers for the weekend #Jeppestown — Sadiyya Akhalwaya (@SadiyyaA) April 17, 2015

Help with donations for new Mayfair camp for #Jeppestown displaced: Contact Saadiq Natha - 082 557 5071 OR saadiqnatha.gotg@gmail.com — vash (@giveusalol) April 17, 2015

#Xenophobia #Jeppestown Several rounds of rubber bullets fired as police try and keep locals back - a fire has been started MV — Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) April 17, 2015

I said it earlier - @SAPoliceService my surround and arrest #Jeppestown hostel group. It’ll become a weekend headache. — Barry Bateman (@barrybateman) April 17, 2015