Up to 22 people have been killed in South Africa over the weekend following an outbreak of violence linked to anti-foreigner sentiment.
Hundreds of foreigners took refuge in police stations and churches as week-old violence against them spread further across poor townships.
Some South Africans, especially those living in poor areas of high unemployment, accuse Zimbabweans and other newcomers of fuelling the high crime rate and taking scarce jobs.
The attacks have renewed the authorities' fears that xenophobia is on the rise in a country which was once known as one of the most welcoming to immigrants and asylum seekers, especially from Africa.
Local radio said angry mobs had at first attacked houses owned by immigrants from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Mozambique and other countries in Alexandra township.
But now these attacks had spread to other settlements and Johannesburg's city centre. Properties had been looted and destroyed.
Mariemuthoo was not reachable for further comment.
The violence has rattled authorities and the business community, and President Thabo Mbeki urged police to move quickly to find the instigators.
Medical rights group Medecins Sans Frontieres said the situation now amounted to a humanitarian crisis.
The violence has also affected businesses owned by immigrants from Asian countries like Pakistan.
An estimated 3 million Zimbabweans have fled to South Africa as a result of the political and economic crisis at home.