South Africa says to offer shelter to African migrants

The BBC reported on its website that President Thabo Mbeki's government was expected to announce the decision to establish seven camps after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

"Government has noted with concern media reports that cabinet has taken a decision to establish refugee camps. Government wish to put it on the record that cabinet has not taken such a decision and that the reports are baseless and therefore not true," it said in a statement.

The Home Affairs Department also denied refugee camps would be established. "We are not setting up refugee camps ... it is shelter for those who have been displaced," spokeswoman Siobhan McCarthy told the SAPA news agency.

"Typically, refugee centers are long-term, we are really looking for a solution for the short term."

At least 56 people died and up to 100,000 were displaced when mobs armed with clubs, knives and stones, rampaged through shantytowns in Johannesburg, Cape Town and other parts of South Africa this month.

The violence has subsided but there is mounting criticism of the government's response to the crisis, which has tarnished the country's image internationally and raised investor concerns about political stability.