The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on President Jacob Zuma and Department of International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to act on the unrest neighbouring in Zimbabwe.

Stevens Mokgalapa of the DA said on Wednesday that the South African government’s silence on the growing crisis in Zimbabwe "cannot be ignored".

Mokgalapa said hundreds of Zimbabweans were protesting over "shortage of resources" in their country which related to food and cash.

The protests, he said, also pointed to a growing dissatisfaction with President Robert Mugabe’s handling of the country’s affairs.

Mokgalapa said Zuma and Nkoana-Mashabane "cannot remain silent if we are to do our part to mitigate the escalating unrest in our neighbouring country".

He said ‘quiet diplomacy’ of the past cannot be allowed to repeat itself.

"The situation in Zimbabwe should serve as a wake up call for the South African government that without sound economic policies and a caring government, the people will suffer and their dissatisfaction will only be silenced for so long."

Mokgalapa said Zuma, who is a leader within the Southern African Development Community and Nkoana-Mashabane should "break their silence and condemn the atrocities currently being carried out in Zimbabwe".

Since Friday there has been unrest at the Beitbridge border town and other areas. Police have been recorded on social media beating up protesters. The unrest in Zimbabwe was sparked by a ban of food stuffs and other commodities from South Africa.

On Wednesday civil servants in Zimbabwe, other workers and informal traders joined the stay away that resulted in the closure of shops and schools in cities and towns. The cash-strapped government has failed to pay civil servants.

Mokgalapa said it was important to speak up for human rights, and this was one area where Zuma should speak out and "give effect to South Africa’s human rights-based foreign policy to ensure that no more human rights abuses occur on our watch".

He acknowledged that while South Africa’s recent track record on human rights from an international perspective "left a lot to be desired and it is time for us to step up and restore our commitment to human rights."

Mokgalapa said if the South African government failed to speak out on what was happening in Zimbabwe, "Our government’s silence in this regard will make us complicit in the escalation of the use of force against civilians."

Mokgalapa urged government to recall how, Zimbabwe, during apartheid, "helped South Africa in its fight for freedom and democracy."

He added: "We have a duty to ensure that Zimbabwe finds legitimate freedom and democracy."