King Zwelithini calls for end to violence - As it happened

And King Goodwill Zwelithini has left the stadium...

Scroll down to get all the details of the King's anti-xenophobia imbizo in Durban, as it happened.

Photo from News24's Amanda Khoza.

The King has wrapped his speech.

"We will meet again to sign a peace accord with the embassies. I will ask teachers at schools to teach school kids about xenophobia and how to treat foreign nationals.

"I also urge municipalities to clear the by-laws in the cities so that foreign nationals can work with our people.

“God bless Africa,” he concludes.

A praise singer is now leading signing and chanting.

“The Human Rights Commission needs to be given time to conduct its investigation thoroughly and without intimidation,” says Zwelithini.

“I've written two letters to the commission and have urged them to also investigate the media's involvement in inciting violence.

“Also the government must be very vocal and clear with how people from outside the country are settled,” Zwelithini continued.

“All these laws must be enforced and followed.”

King Goodwill Zwelithini said he decided to call the urgent Imbizo after meeting with Home Affairs minister, Malusi Gigaba and State Security Minister, David Mahlobo, reports News24's Amanda Khoza.

"It was important for me to intervene because this was a crisis.

“The speech I made was taken out of context by the media and it is now important to explain and clarify."

“The speech I made has become central and very important,” the king continued in Zulu, and translated into English by eNCA.

“It has become more important now than when it was given. That is why this Imbizo was called.

“I’ve called this Imbizo so we can take action against those who are doing these things.”

“Most of these attacks are directed toward people from other parts of Africa,” the king said in Zulu, and translated into English by eNCA.

“South Africa has gone out and done the very things that were warned against in the Human Rights Watch reports of 2009.”

“We have not learnt from the mistakes of the past,” reported eNCA.

King Goodwill Zwelithini is now addressing the crowd.

“The months of March and April have been difficult months in the life of Africa,” reports an eNCA translator.

“Our people are attacking the very neighbours who gave us refuge during our own liberation struggle,” says Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

“These are the people with whom we had trade ties, historical ties, and ties of humanity.

“There is no sense in what is happening, my fellow Zulus.”

"We want to thank the king for always calling for calm in the province," says Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza.

"We are here as Amakhosi to listen to what you want us to hear for the sake of peace so that we can stop this bloodshed.

“We are here to listen to the king, if he says all weapons done, that is what we are going to do.”

When Rubin Phillip took the podium he prayed for peace and unity.

"We are gathered here today as your children made in your image. We are like a garden with different textures and shapes and indeed the children of Africa, we speak different languages and we are different in colour... Bless this Imbizo. We pray. Bless the King, may his words bring healing and peace," said Phillip.

As a Muslim cleric took the stage, the crowds continued to boo despite the fact that he spoke IsiZulu, Amanda Khoza says.

"As a Muslim, the King is the father of all nations," he said to the crowd.

MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu has taken to the stage to urge the crowds to calm down, reports Amanda Khoza.

"Please, people, these are just prayers. Please behave yourselves," said the MEC.

The crowds keep booing the priests. All those that are not Zulu.