Trade union federation Cosatu said on Friday employment in the country should be a matter of human rights rather than an issue of nationality.

The federation’s statement came in the wake of unrest in De Doorns this week which saw more than 2000 foreign nationals forced to leave their homes.

Locals accused the immigrants of stealing their jobs.

Cosatu's Mike Louw said everyone should be entitled to a job, irrespective of their nationality.

"It's a very controversial question. Obviously firstly it's a human rights issue, a humanitarian issue that needs to be dealt with. That is a fundamental question and it's a difficult one and it's something that as a country we haven't necessarily debated,” said Louw.

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