No amount of frustration or anger can ever justify the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops," he said.
"We condemn the violence in the strongest possible terms - the attacks violate all the values that South Africa embodies."Despite his pleas, hundreds of South Africans jeered and insulted demonstrators who had gathered for a peace march in the city of Durban after days of violence in which at least five people have been killed.
A police officer looks on as foreign nationals clear their shop
The US ambassador to South Africa, born in Zaire - now the Democratic Republic of the Congo - to Haitian parents, spoke in defence of the immigrants.
"As an immigrant to my own country, my heart goes out to those who have been attacked for being different," Patrick H. Gaspard said.
A foreign man feeds his baby at a camp south of Durban
In a recorded speech sent to a local broadcaster, he said: "We must deal with our own lice" and complained about foreign-owned shops.
South Africa's Human Rights Commission said it has received two complaints of hate speech levelled against the king.
Angry South Africans accuse immigrants of taking jobs in a country where unemployment and poverty levels are high - the official figure is 25% but economists say, in reality, it is much higher.
A police officer on guard at a hostel search
Many own shops or sell goods informally on street corners or in markets.
The governments of Malawi and Zimbabwe are planning to repatriate affected citizens.
"Xenophobia today can easily mutate into genocide tomorrow. Stop It," tweeted Zimbabwe Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, adding that the Zulu king should "extinguish what he ignited".
Zimbabwean musicians have also called for a boycott of South African artists.
In Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, some locals said Somalis should have stayed at home where they would have been safer.
"This must become a lesson for them to return home," said one resident
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