The South African army will be deployed to end a wave of attacks on foreigners, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has said.

Soldiers would be deployed to a township in the main city, Johannesburg, and to flashpoints in KwaZulu-Natal province, she added.

This will be the first troop deployment since the violence broke out early this month, killing at least seven people.

South Africa has faced a backlash from other African states over the attacks.

Many people would "appreciate the decision to bring in the defence force", Ms Mapisa-Nqakula told journalists.

Troops would not take over the responsibilities of the police but would assist in maintaining order, the defence minister added.

The Ministry of Defence said they would be deployed from 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) in Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg.

Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole was killed in the township at the weekend.

Four suspects appeared in court on Tuesday over Mr Sithole's killing, which was caught on camera by a local journalist.

The men were remanded in custody, without being asked to plead.

A crowd protested outside court, demanding justice for Mr Sithole.

The army was also deployed during the xenophobic violence in 2008, when at least 63 people were killed, says the BBC's Nomsa Maseko in Johannesburg.

Police say the situation is calm now with no new violent attacks reported anywhere in South Africa, she reports.

More than 900 people have been voluntarily repatriated back to their home countries since the violence broke out, officials say.