Leaders of South Africa?s ruling ANC held rallies and public meetings yesterday to try to end xenophobic violence that has killed at least 50 African migrants and displaced tens of thousands. «This programme will involve all levels of the organisation in a decisive and concerted campaign to mobilise across society to address this crisis,» the African National Congress said.

ANC leader Jacob Zuma will speak in Springs, east of Johannesburg, one of the flashpoints for a wave of anti-migrant riots that began two weeks ago. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who is the former wife of Nelson Mandela, will speak at a separate meeting. The campaign was expected to draw community activists and members of the public. President Thabo Mbeki, who lost the ANC leadership to Zuma last year, was scheduled to address the nation later yesterday - for the first time since the attacks began. The ANC government has been criticised for its slow reaction to the unrest, the worst since apartheid ended 14 years ago, and for not adequately addressing the poverty widely blamed for sparking the bloodshed. More than 25,000 have been driven from their homes across the nation by mobs who have stabbed, clubbed and burnt migrants, whom they accuse of taking jobs and fuelling crime. Officials in the tourism industry are worried that overseas visitors will delay or cancel trips to the country, which is scheduled to host the 2010 soccer World Cup. An estimated half a million extra tourists are then expected.

By Paul SIMAO