JOHANNESBURG , South Africa ( CNN ) -- South Africa 's police chief said Monday that violence directed at foreign nationals had killed 22 people over the past week . Police carry an unidentified Malawi national on an improvised stretcher after he was badly beaten in Reiger Park township . The attacks have been concentrated in Johannesburg 's poorest areas , and many of the victims were Zimbabweans who have fled repression and dire economic circumstances . The Nelson Mandela Foundation issued a statement condemning the `` senseless violence '' that police say was sparked a week ago in Johannesburg 's Alexandra Township . `` We join the rest of South Africa in deploring this violence , '' said Achmat Dangor , CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation , according to a statement released on Monday . `` Whatever the underlying causes they have to be addressed , but this senseless violence is not a solution . '' Police said those behind the attacks accused the foreigners of stealing jobs , carrying out criminal activities and benefiting from social services -- such as free housing -- meant to benefit South Africans . iReport.com : Are you there ? Send photos , video . Police arrested more than 200 people during the violence for offenses including rape , murder , robbery and theft . Police said at least one foreigner was burned alive over the weekend , while others had their houses torched , their shops looted and their possessions stolen . Many have sought refuge at police stations . Some women have told police they were raped as part of an effort to drive the immigrants out . South Africa 's police director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said 22 people had been killed in the past week . The Red Cross estimates some 3,000 more were displaced . The attacks were concentrated in some of the poorest parts of South Africa where locals are jobless , hungry and in need of basic services such as clean water , sanitation and housing . South African President Thabo Mbeki called for an investigation into the violence . He has been reluctant to describe it as xenophobic because many South Africans have criticized his government for not doing enough to deal with the crisis in neighboring Zimbabwe . Zimbabwe is in the midst of an economic collapse , with nearly 80 percent unemployment and inflation estimated to be at 160,000 percent . In addition , it is also in a state of political limbo . A presidential runoff between long-time leader President Robert Mugabe and his opposition challenger Morgan Tsvangirai is scheduled for June 27 -- three months after the initial vote . Opposition leaders have accused the government of carrying out a campaign of political intimidation ahead of the runoff . The economic and political situation has seen an influx of Zimbabweans to South Africa , seeking a better life . Archbishop Desmond Tutu also condemned the violence and urged South Africans to remember the help that he and other anti-apartheid leaders received from neighboring countries . `` Although they were poor , they welcomed us South Africans as refugees , and allowed our liberation movements to have bases in their territory even if it meant those countries were going to be attacked by the SADF ( South African Defense Forces ) , '' Tutu said . `` Please stop the violence now . This is not how we behave . These are our sisters and brothers . Please , please stop . '' A South African military veterans ' group plans to mobilize soldiers who fought against the country 's former system of legalized racial separation `` to help educate the people ... about the role played by other African countries in securing South Africa 's freedom . '' `` Many brave comrades paid the ultimate price on African soil , but never at the hands of the people of those countries , '' according to a statement from the Military Veterans ' Association in the Western Cape province . `` In the light of these facts , the xenophobic attacks witnessed in Gauteng ( Province ) over the past week -- and previously , against refugee traders in Cape Town -- are totally repugnant . ''
At least 22 people killed by mobs targeting foreigners in Johannesburg . Police arrest more than 200 people for offenses including rape and murder . - March 20 : South Africa 's Archbishop Desmond Tutu condemns the attacks .