More than 800 police officers have been deployed in and around Durban where xenophobic violence has left at least five people dead since the weekend.

“If the threat requires more [police officers], we will respond. We still have the capacity to respond and we will respond as needed,” national police commissioner Riah Phiyega told reporters in Parliament.

She said the police were working with national and provincial government departments to return stability to KwaZulu-Natal.

Asked if the police were making progress, she replied: “I think we are. We’ve intervened in Isipingo, to Chatsworth, to all other areas, to the city and this thing is migrating, but in all instances we’ve managed when it occurred to restore stability.

“Our responsibility is A, to save lives and B, to restore stability.”

The police was aware that attacks could spread to other provinces and were ready to act if necessary.

For now, the situation is under control, she said.

“We are coping. We are able to deal with the situation.” News24