Under-fire Zulu King Goodwill will on Monday publicly address his controversial comments - that foreigners must leave the country - at a royal imbizo in Durban.

About 10 000 people are expected to attend the event‚ said KwaZulu-Natal co-operative governance department spokesman Lennox Mabaso on Sunday.

Speaking at a moral regeneration event in Pongola about a month ago‚ Zwelithini said that foreigners should pack their bags and leave.

The comments are being probed by the SA Human Rights Commission‚ which is investigating whether or not they constitute hate speech.

Mabaso said the event will start at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Monday morning‚ and will be attended by various cultural leaders.

It was originally planned for Curries Fountain‚ the starting venue for last Thursday's peace march through the city centre.

"We are planning for 10 000 people‚ but with things like this you can't be completely sure how many will come. That's why we opted for the bigger venue‚" he siad.

While Zwelithini will address the crowd‚ it was unlikely‚ a source said‚ that he would apologise for the comments. Instead‚ he is expected to condemn the violence and call for calm.