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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the violence that rocked the country was planned in advance, describing it as an attack on democracy.
Riots were sparked by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma.
The death toll has risen to 212, up nearly 100 since Thursday, the government said.
Police protected food deliveries to supermarkets after days of widespread looting that resulted in shortages.
An estimated $ 1 billion (£ 720 million) stock has been stolen in KwaZulu-Natal and at least 800 retail stores have been looted, a provincial mayor has said.
“It’s pretty clear that all these incidents of unrest and looting were caused – there were people who planned and coordinated it,” Ramaphosa said during a visit to KwaZulu-Natal, province of KwaZulu-Natal. Mr. Zuma’s origin and the epicenter of the violence.
The president said the riots were an attempt to hijack South African democracy. He told his supporters that the instigators had been identified, but did not elaborate.
“We are pursuing them,” he added.
In KwaZulu-Natal, many people line up for food, sometimes in the early hours of the morning just to get a few items.
Those who were waiting told the BBC they feared feeding their families, getting formula and diapers for their babies, and even food for their pets.
The week of violence in the province has left roads damaged or blocked by rioters and the government wants to make sure the food supply is not disrupted, acting minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said.
Soldiers have been deployed to potential hot spots and police are providing escorts for the transport of oxygen, medicine and other essentials, she said.
In a 30-minute televised address later Friday, Mr Ramaphosa said there was no shortage of food or supplies and urged people not to panic buying.
He said more than 2,500 people had been arrested in connection with the unrest and urged South Africans to rally.
“If we stand together, no insurgency or violence in this country will succeed,” he said. “We are engaged in a struggle to defend our democracy, our Constitution, our livelihoods and our security.
“This is not a battle we can afford to lose.”
The protests began last week after Zuma surrendered to police to serve a 15-month sentence for contempt of court.
Zuma’s supporters have reacted with fury to his imprisonment, blocking main roads and calling for a closure to demand his release.
The protests escalated into riots on a scale rarely seen in South Africa. Businesses from all sectors have been looted, torched and bombarded with gasoline in towns and villages across KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in Gauteng, which surrounds the country’s largest city, Johannesburg.
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