The country’s unemployment figures have increased yet again.

The fourth quarter of last year showed more people losing their jobs, with South Africa’s unemployment rate standing at 35.3%.

Stats SA also revealed that this figure will increase to 46.2% if the number of discouraged work seekers is included.

The agency says that low response from participants meant that they had to delay releasing these figures.

This news comes as much of the xenophobic tensions experienced recently have been linked to perceptions that foreign nationals are flooding the job market.

The Bredasdorp community is trying to return to normality, after a small group of protesters targeted foreign nationals, accusing them of taking job opportunities away from locals.

But the Cape Agulhas Municipal Manager Eben Phillips says that most foreign nationals are in Bredasdorp legally and are therefore entitled to employment.

He says that the past week of tensions has shown that there must be an effort from the municipality to make people more aware of labour requirements and that of foreign nationals.

Phillips was speaking as more than 1 000 foreigners sought refuge in mosques and municipal buildings after violent clashes with locals in Bredasdorp.