Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini on Monday denied whipping up xenophobic hatred in South Africa after he was accused of triggering violence that has left at least seven people dead and forced thousands from their homes.

"This violence directed at our brothers and sister is shameful," he told a tribal gathering of Zulus in Durban. "I'm certain that the people who were listening to my speech (last month), understand Zulu well and did not need interpretation."