Foreigners evacuated amid fresh xenophobia fears

ABOUT 1000 foreign nationals have evacuated informal settlements at De Doorns in the Western Cape following a flare-up of xenophobia.

De Doorns station commissioner Superintendent Desmond van der Westhuizen said he had had no reports of physical violence against foreigners.

However, tensions had been building since last week, he added.

Yesterday morning, local residents prevented foreigners from climbing onto the trucks of farmers coming into the town to collect seasonal workers for the day. — Sapa

Malema defends Mbeki

THE ANC Youth League would not allow former president Thabo Mbeki to be charged with genocide, league president Julius Malema said .

This comes after Young Communist League national secretary Buti Manamela said Mbeki and former health minister Manto Tshabalala- Msimang had denied many HIV-positive people access to anti-retroviral drugs while they were in government, and called for the two to be charged with genocide.

“We must not charge one of our own. If we allow that, the same thing would happen to (Zimbabwean President Robert) Mugabe, and the same would happen to (President Jacob) Zuma, and the next thing you know they will come for you,” Malema said . — Sapa

French rugby sorry for anthem

THE French Rugby Union (FFR) has apologised to the South African Rugby Union (Saru) for the way the national anthem was performed in France last weekend.

This is after South African singer Ras Dumisani made a hash of the South African national anthem before the Springboks’ rugby Test against France in Toulouse on Friday.

Saru president Oregan Hoskins said he had received the apology from Pierre Camou, president of the FFR . — Sapa

R1.3bn icebreaker for SA

SOUTH Africa has ordered a R1.3 billion , multipurpose icebreaker from a Finnish shipbuilder, scheduled to be delivered in 2012.

The polar vessel, with research equipment for a mobile laboratory, will be used by scientists for South Africa’s Antarctic Programme.

The 134m icebreaker will be able to accommodate 100 passengers and a crew of 45 and will feature a gym, a library, and a small hospital. — Sapa-AP

Bid to stop Zulu bull ritual

INDIAN animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi and South African campaigners are seeking to ban a Zulu ritual in which youths kill a bull with their bare hands .

“We will ask for an urgent interdiction of this practice at the Durban High Court,” said Steve Smit, spokesperson for Animal Rights Africa.

In the ritual, 20 to 40 young men push the bull onto the ground, stab its eyes, yank out its tongue, twist its genitals and then beat it to death, Smit said. — Sapa-AFP

Bombs found on Durban beach

THREE bombs were found on a Durban beach yesterday, bringing to nine the number recently discovered in the area.

Captain Vincent Mdunge said the bombs were found on the sand in front of Addington Hospital.

The bombs appeared to be old naval projectiles from the 1950s. — Sapa

Interpol help during World Cup

NATIONAL Police Commissioner Bheki Cele met with Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble yesterday in France to discuss co-operation during the FIFA World Cup.

Cele’s office said Interpol would help with passport control measures, screening documents against its international database. —Sapa