The World Council of Churches (WCC) has urged the South African Government to "demonstrate leadership" in the wake of "murderous violence" against foreigners and protecting human rights in the past month.

In a letter to the country's WCC member churches and the South African Council of Churches (SACC) this week, the WCC's General Secretary the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia said he was "deeply saddened" by the "brutal wave" of violent xenophobic attacks on foreigners during May.

He echoed a previous call from SACC Secretary General Eddie Makue who condemned any use of violence and intimidation against foreigners. The most recent wave hit a number of cities in South Africa, including Johannesburg, killing 62 people forcing another 70,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, churches and police stations.

Dr Kobia urged the people and Government of South Africa to show compassion by welcoming migrants.

"We acknowledge the right of nations to maintain the sanctity and security of their borders. At the same time our faith compels us to appeal to your compassion to welcome the stranger as we find written in our Gospel," he wrote.

Dr Kobia pointed to the "positive contributions migrants within South Africa bring to the local society and economy, in terms of cultural diversity, skills, economic growth, etc, should not be overlooked".

Around 50,000 migrants, mainly Mozambicans, Malawians and Zimbabweans fled South Africa after armed mobs tore through poverty-stricken shanty towns around Johannesburg and other cities killing and beating foreigners, and vandalising their property.

The South Africa High Commissioner to Mozambique, Thandi Lujabe-Rankoe officially apologised to Mozambique on Wednesday for the attacks, which killed around 30 Mozambicans. It is the worst outbreak of violence in South Africa since the end of the apartheid in 1994.

South Africa said on Wednesday that it had charged 1,436 people with murder, arson and assault, among other crimes.