South Africa's government denied today that it would set up refugee camps for tens of thousands of African migrants who fled their homes during a wave of xenophobic attacks.
The BBC reported earlier on its website that President Thabo Mbeki's government is expected to announce the decision to establish seven camps throughout the country after a cabinet meeting today.
But the government said in a statement that the reports were not true.
"Government has noted with concern media reports that cabinet has taken a decision to establish refugee camps. Government wish to put it on the record that cabinet has not taken such a decision and that the reports are baseless and therefore not true," the statement said.
The government will make a further statement at a post-cabinet news conference tomorrow, it said.
At least 56 people died and up to 100,000 were displaced when mobs armed with clubs, knives and stones, rampaged through shantytowns in Johannesburg, Cape Town and other parts of the country earlier this month.
The violence has subsided but there is mounting criticism of the government's response to the crisis, which has tarnished the country's image internationally and raised investor concerns about political stability within its borders.
South Africa's Home Affairs Department also denied that refugee camps would be established.
"We are not setting up refugee camps ... it is shelter for those who have been displaced," spokeswoman Siobhan McCarthy told the SAPA news agency. "Typically, refugee centres are long term, we are really looking for a solution for the short-term."
Relief agencies and UN officials say they are shocked at conditions in makeshift shelters where thousands of Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and other migrants now live. Many are sleeping outside in temperatures that drop to near freezing at night.
The lion's share of blankets, tents, clothes and food distributed to the refugees have come from humanitarian and religious groups and individual citizens. There are few signs of significant aid from government.