Johannesburg ( CNN ) South African troops deployed Tuesday evening as part of a new government effort to stop deadly anti-immigrant violence . Their first target : the Johannesburg suburb of Jeppestown , where xenophobic violence broke out on Friday . South African police raided a Jeppestown hostel Tuesday while troops secured the perimeter . Earlier , Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula announced the plan to deploy an undisclosed number of troops to areas where police are spread too thin while trying to curb deadly attacks against immigrants . `` This intervention is not an indictment on the police . ... We are coming in because they need that support , '' she said after visiting Johannesburg 's Alexandra township , one area where mobs have attacked immigrants from other African nations and looted their shops -- ostensibly based on the belief that immigrants are taking South Africans ' jobs . Seven people have been killed in recent violence against poorer immigrants , many from South Africa 's neighbors . Xenophobic killing caught by photographer . Much of this month 's violence happened in the port city of Durban , where at least two foreigners and three South Africans were killed after mobs with machetes attacked immigrant shops . Thousands of people took temporary shelter at refugee centers or police stations as a result , according to aid group Gift of the Givers . Similar violence happened late last week in Johannesburg , where immigrant-owned shops were looted or destroyed . The attacks came as residents accused immigrants of taking their jobs and committing crimes . The unemployment rate in South Africa is 25 % , according to government figures . The United Nations said the attacks began in March after a labor dispute between citizens and foreign workers . What 's behind the xenophobic attacks in South Africa ? CNN 's Brent Swails reported from Johannesburg . CNN 's Jason Hanna reported and wrote from Atlanta .
African troops help police conduct raids in Jeppestown . Defense minister says police are spread too thin trying to prevent attacks on immigrants . Seven people have been killed in recent violence against poorer immigrants .