The South African Presidency has confirmed that its president, Jacob Zuma, spoke on the phone with Nigeria’s outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan in which they reaffirmed the need for both countries to work together in tackling the xenophobic problems in the southern nation.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the South African Presidency, Zuma’s call was on the need not to allow the recent attacks on some Nigerians and their businesses create any diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

“The two Presidents reaffirmed the warm and cordial relations between South Africa and Nigeria and pledged that the two countries will continue to work together for the good of their peoples and the continent as a whole.” the statement said.

“President Jonathan expressed his support for the efforts of South Africa to arrest the attacks on foreign nationals and to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, including foreign nationals and those from the African continent in particular, who bore the brunt of the attacks earlier this month (April).”

It added that Zuma would attend the inauguration of the President-elect of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 29.