Government needs to redouble its effort to reduce unemployment and poverty as a long-term solution to the current xenophobic violence, said Gauteng's MEC for Transport Ignatius Jacobs on Tuesday.

He said the "only credible (solution)" to the recent xenophobic attacks was to work together with various civil society formations and political parties.

Jacobs said that in the medium to long term, SA needed to review and enhance policy proposals to redouble efforts to reduce unemployment, poverty and other social ills amongst its people.

The country also needed to accelerate skills development through SETAs.

He said Gauteng should assist as a province in dealing with challenges faced by the processing of citizenship, permanent residence status and work-permits.

In the short term, Gauteng had implemented a response to the current problems by offering humanitarian aid, security through the police and working with the United Nations and foreign embassies.

Sapa