Housing policy was identified as an important trigger for the outbreak of xenophobic attacks, according to a report by the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) released on Wednesday.

The report, in response to the outbreak of violence in May which left more than 60 dead and some 10,000 displaced, was based on a roundtable discussion involving 50 representatives from government, civil society and affected communities.

"The housing policy needs to be revisited urgently. Housing is a complex issue and is one of the issues that sparked xenophobic violence in various areas around country," said HSRC director Adrian Hadland at the launch of the report in Alexandra.

He said those involved with housing needed to be more accountable and open about the process of allocating RDP houses.

"People usually rent out their RDP houses and their neighbours would then assume the foreign nationals renting those houses have jumped the list. There is a need for transparency in housing."

Some of the recommendations made by the council to avoid these attacks in future included convening a national indaba on xenophobia and encouraging discussion among residents.

This could take place through establishing local community forums, revising the migration policy and education.

"Immigrants... need to be introduced to customs, practice and sensitivities of the country. The local councillors need to be educated about migration and South Africa's role globally," said Hadland.

South Africa needed immigrants because of their skills.

British high commissioner Paul Boateng said xenophobia was a "weeping wound in the body of society.

"The UK can learn a lot from South Africa's experience... the dual purpose is for the issue to remain on the international agenda to ensure that there is no repeat to what happened," he said.

Although reintegration was not dealt with in the report, the HSRC said dialogue was essential in bringing this about.

"It is critical to ask local people what they think."

Some foreigners have returned to their communities in areas around Gauteng and Pretoria. Others remained homeless after the dismantling of camps set up to shelter them in the wake of the attacks.