Stalwarts of South Africa's struggle for freedom from apartheid are angered and saddened by the xenophobic violence sweeping the country.

Stalwarts of South Africa's struggle for freedom from apartheid are angered and saddened by the xenophobic violence sweeping the country.

"We did not struggle to find ourselves in the present situation," Rivonia trialist Andrew Mlangeni said at the opening of the Liliesleaf Farm Museum on Friday.

"South Africans are regarding others as foreigners in their own country, they are looting and destroying other people's property," Mlangeni told a gathering of struggle comrades and ANC leaders.

"I don't know whether these acts are perpetrated by the youth or whether a force is behind them.

"The government is unable to put its finger on it and say it is this and this and that. We are all still guessing.

"That is what annoys me. It makes me very angry. It makes me very sad."

Also speaking out against the recent violence was Denis Goldberg, another Rivonia trialist.

"We've seen an explosion of violence in the past few weeks," Goldberg said. "It's out of frustration."

He said South Africa had to learn from the past, but in a way that did not make conditions better for just a few.

"We need to find ways in business, in the private sector ... to make life better for our people as a whole, and it's urgent." - Sapa