Hundreds of anti-migrant protesters marched through a township outside Johannesburg on Monday demanding stricter interventions against illegal migration.

This comes one day after South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged action against groups accused of fuelling xenophobic tensions. Protesting groups have ordered undocumented foreigners to leave by June 30.

Chanting and singing as they moved through Kwa-Thema, a township about 40 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg, protesters called for tougher government action against illegal immigration.

Border walls

"We want the government to implement the laws and go and build a wall on the border. Stop these people from flocking into the country. That is simple," the lead campaigner of the march, which was largely peaceful, said.

Similar marches involving dozens of people were reported elsewhere, including in the Western Cape and Limpopo provinces.

At least two Mozambican citizens have been killed in the latest wave of unrest and several countries, including Mozambique and Ghana, have organised the return of some of their citizens.

Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns over illegal immigration but warned that the authorities would not tolerate anyone taking the law into their own hands.

'No space for xenophobia': Ramaphosa

"We will and must not allow groups to use the legitimate concerns of South Africans to destabilise our country through inciting lawlessness and violence," he said in a national address late on Sunday.

No-one, he said "is allowed, for example, to confront someone in the street to demand proof of nationality".

"There is no space for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia or any other forms of intolerance in South Africa."

"We will act against forces who are exploiting the concerns of our people about illegal immigration to further their own political, personal or criminal agendas," the president said.

Caution urged

South Africa, one of Africa's leading economies, is home to more than three million foreigners, just over 5% of the population.

Unemployment stands at more than 30%, fuelling tensions with migrant workers.

Ghana has arranged repatriation flights for hundreds of nationals, while Malawi and Mozambique organised buses to bring people home. The first group of Nigerians is due to leave on Wednesday.

Kenya, Lesotho and Zimbabwe are among several countries that have urged their citizens in South Africa to exercise caution.