Major-General Jeremy Vearey clarifies position on military deployment

Major-General Jeremy Vearey, the South African Police Services’ Head of Anti-Gang Strategy in the Western Cape, on Sunday clarified his position on military deployment in xenophobic hotspots following comments he made during a University of Cape Town panel discussion last week.

"I want to stress that I did not denounce the government’s decision to deploy the army in xenophobic hotspots,"said Vearey.

In a panel discussion hosted by the University of Cape Town’s Safety and Violence Initiative on Thursday, Vearey was quoted as saying: "We are loathe to approach this from a militarised point and as police, we would want our intervention to be a last resort."

"The deployment of the army in other parts of the country worries me,"he had said.

Clarifying his remarks, Vearey said he was merely responding to calls by some members of the public for army deployment because they believed the police had allegedly failed as a first line of response, which he found worrying.

"In these situations the police is always the first line of response and the army merely offers operational support if the situation requires it," Vearey explained.

"I said that we should therefore be loathe to approach this issue entirely from a militaristic point of view and the fact that some are misrepresenting the deployment of the army in other parts of the country to support the notion that the situation is out of the control of the police is a matter of serious concern."

Vearey also sought to provide clarity on his position on the attacks on foreign nationals in 2008.

"Some of them were naturalised as South African citizens. They were not only illegal immigrants," he said. He added that attacks in 2008 were not, as previously reported, directed largely to those legally here as citizens

Foreign nationals return to their communities

Foreign nationals are slowly returning to their communities. Many had fled following the xenophobic attacks which flared up mainly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

In Gauteng, community leaders in Ramaphosa Informal Settlement east of Johannesburg came together to bridge the gap between foreign nationals and locals.

Ramaphosa informal settlement was a hotspot in 2008 after the burning to death of a Mozambican which grabbed local and international headlines. But now, this community has rallied together to keep the foreigners safe.

Ethiopian store owner, Girma Alum fled Soweto in 2012 when his store was looted. Last week, once again he had to pack his stock and flee.

“It’s three days since we open, it's fine now. I don’t know what is the next step, we are trying to do our job,” says Alum.

Community leaders met with senior government officials and they shared concerns and solutions with Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu. The objective is to ensure that attacks do not spike again.

Nathaniel Mohale of South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) says: “We remember last time when there was an issue of xenophobia, there were also South Africans who died and we don’t want that again.”

Actonville Ward Councillor, Imtiaz Loonat, says that he is certain that reintegrating foreign nationals and good leadership will result in the combat of xenophobic violence.

Some of the concerns raised relate to the high rate of unemployment which some blamed on those from neighbouring countries.

Shabangu says that: “Issues of jobs, issues of people that are here, there’s nothing new.

“South Africa always had migrants who came and worked but what we seeing today is cause for concern but I’m comforted by the people of this community.”

On the other side of Johannesburg, Artists, Musicians and Writers are adding their voices. A song to combat xenophobia, Mamela Afrika, has been penned.

Ramaphosa community members will take to the street on Monday to welcome back their fellow 

Royal baby alert: Superbug breaks out in hospital

London – While the world waits with bated breath for the second royal baby to make its appearance a superbug has closed a ward at the St Mary’s hospital.

The Duchess of Cambridge’s due date for the fourth in line to the throne was on 25 April, and she is expected to be admitted to the Lindo Wing in the coming days.

According to a report by The Independent a screening of eight patients for a microorganism, and subsequent infection has shut down a surgical ward at the hospital.

8 patients have been identified as carrying Carbapenemase producing enterobacteriaceae (CPE).

According to Public Health England, CPE is the name given to a group of bacteria that have become very resistant to antibiotics including those called carbapenems. 

Senior staff at the hospital have said they are working with Public Health England and are screening patients on the Zachary Cope ward.

Royal fans have already started camping outside the hospital in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the latest royal to be born.

Earlier on Sunday Prime Minister David Cameron defended the royal couple's choice of private treatment at the Lindo Wing over public care offered by the National Health Service, APreported.

Asked on TV if the royal couple's decision was disappointing, Cameron said he supports peoples' right to choose treatment options.

Beer company to sell drinks made from urine

A beer company received approval from the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to use filtered wastewater to produce beer.

The light yellow lager beer will be brewed by home brewers using recycled wastewater.

Clean Water Services of Oregon, said it hopes to show consumers soon how pure recycled wastewater really is. Drinking recycled wastewater is quite common in some parts of the world, but to a lesser degree in the United States.

Clean Water Services said that they are proud of its recycling system and applied to the Commission on Environmental Quality to be allowed to brew beer.

Permission was granted on Wednesday.

Oregon Brew Crew now produces a wastewater beer and serves it at company events, but the final product will have to be approved by health and safety officials.

One health authority approved the idea, giving credit to the high quality of treated water, additional microbial reduction in the process of brewing and a low risk of health in general.

Man tears thumb tendon after playing Candy Crush non-stop for over a month

LOS ANGELES: In a bizarre case, a 29-year- old man in the US ruptured a tendon in his thumb after playing puzzle game 'Candy Crush' on his smartphone non-stop for over a month.

The medical condition of the man from California came to light after a report on his case was published in the medical journal 'Live Science'.

The case is interesting because such injuries are usually quite painful, but the man appeared to not notice any pain while he played, according to the doctors who treated him.

The case shows that, in a sense, video games may numb people's pain and contribute to video game addiction, they said.

"We need to be aware that certain video games can act like digital painkillers," Dr Andrew Doan, a co-author of the case report and head of addictions research at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, was quoted as saying.

"We have to be very cognizant that can be abused," Doan said.

The man went to the doctor because his left thumb hurt and he was having trouble moving it.

He told doctors that he had played the puzzle game "Candy Crush Saga" on his smartphone all day for six to eight weeks.

The man had played the game with his left hand while he used his right hand for other things, the case report said.

"Playing was a kind of secondary thing, but it was constantly on," the man was quoted as saying in the case report.

After examining the man and performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on his hand, doctors determined that the man had ruptured a tendon involved in moving the thumb, and they said he needed surgery to repair the tendon.

Typically, when people rupture this tendon, the tear occurs at the point where the tendon is thinnest, or where it attaches to the bone, Doan said.

But in this man's case, the rupture occurred at the point where the tendon was thickest, which would usually cause pain prior to the rupture, he said.

The man said he did not feel the pain while he played the smartphone game.

This may be because, when people play video games, they can feel pleasure and excitement that are tied to the release of natural painkillers in the body -- the same thing that happens when a person feels a "runner's high," Doan said.

Zanu-PF rejects anti-EFF tweet

Harare - A tweet in which Zanu-PF allegedly called for EFF MPs to be burnt alive for delaying a xenophobia debate was "totally fake", a party spokesperson told state television late on Monday.

 "Zanu-PF does not behave in such a thuggish manner,” former ambassador to South Africa, Simon Khaya Moyo, said.

On Thursday, the @zanu_pf account was used to tweet:  “These EFF thugs should be burnt alive for interrupting xenophobia talk in SA parliament. #EFFxenophobes." 

Moyo told the main evening news bulletin on state ZBC television: "This information I can assure you, is totally fake. We don't interfere in the politics of South Africa. We are talking about xenophobia. We are not talking about political parties of South Africa.”

EFF MPs delayed President Jacob Zuma's address on xenophobia for nearly an hour in Parliament on Thursday, demanding that he address outstanding questions about spending on his Nkandla home.

The @zanu_pf account has nearly 29 000 followers. It is not clear who is behind it. Zanu-PF does not have a verified Twitter account. 

On Saturday, it was used to tweet: “We are not a bunch of drunk looters.

Govt warns perpetrators of xenophobic violence: We will find you

Pretoria - Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba on Sunday warned perpetrators of xenophobic violence would face the full might of the law.

“We want to issue a stern warning to those who lend themselves to acts of public violence. We will find you and you will be dealt with to the full might of the law,” Gigaba said at a media briefing in Pretoria.

He was addressing reporters on violence against foreign nationals, mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, that has seen at least six people killed and many displaced. Police could not confirm reports of a seventh death in Alexandra, Johannesburg on Sunday morning.

Gigaba said 307 people have so far been arrested for related acts since the attacks broke out over a week ago and they would face prosecution.

Gigaba said there were ‘elements’ who were taking advantage of the violence to plunge the country into anarchy.

“Over the past few days we have noticed a new phenomenon where people make use of social media to instil fear in different parts of the country,” Gigaba said.

“They have been sending out fictitious SMS and WhatsApp messages with fictitious and photoshopped images warning people of imminent attacks.”

He said these messages appeared to be orchestrated by elements “bent on taking advantage of unease in the communities and instil fear among the people”.

“The misinformation that has been taking place on social media should be condemned by all peace-loving South Africans as well as foreign nationals living in our country,” Gigaba said.

Gigaba sought to ensure the international community that South Africa was doing everything possible to stem the violence.

“To the countries that continue to invest in South Africa, we want to reassure them that South Africa is a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law,” Gigaba said.

“Investors are welcome to do business. Everything is [being] done to restore peace and order. Government will enforce the laws of the country to act speedily [and] decisively on any criminal activity committed by or against a foreign national or a citizen of South Africa.”

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Zuma: Pray for peace, friendship

Durban - President Jacob Zuma has called on religious leaders to pray for peace and friendship following the recent spate of violent attacks against foreign nationals over the past few weeks.

In a statement released on Saturday night, Zuma stated his belief that the majority of South Africans believe in peace, while the actions of only a minority have contributed to ‘sporadic’ incidents of violence against foreign nationals recently.

“We humbly request our religious leaders nationwide to send out a message of peace and friendship to all our people,” the statement read.

“South Africans have lived in peace with foreign nationals for years.

“We know that the majority of our people believe in human rights and peace and that they respect the dignity of all wholive in our country.”

‘South African way’

The president expressed his desire that the recent wave of xenophobic attacks be overcome through dialogue.

“They know that where there are concerns and differences, these should be resolved the South African way, through dialogue, and not through violence and intimidation.Durban - President Jacob Zuma has called on religious leaders to pray for peace and friendship following the recent spate of violent attacks against foreign nationals over the past few weeks.

In a statement released on Saturday night, Zuma stated his belief that the majority of South Africans believe in peace, while the actions of only a minority have contributed to ‘sporadic’ incidents of violence against foreign nationals recently.

“We humbly request our religious leaders nationwide to send out a message of peace and friendship to all our people,” the statement read.

“South Africans have lived in peace with foreign nationals for years.

“We know that the majority of our people believe in human rights and peace and that they respect the dignity of all who live in our country.”

‘South African way’

The president expressed his desire that the recent wave of xenophobic attacks be overcome through dialogue.

“They know that where there are concerns and differences, these should be resolved the South African way, through dialogue, and not through violence and intimidation.

“We will work with all peace loving South Africans and foreign nationals to promote peaceful co-existence, solidarity and friendship,’’ said the President.

President Zuma cancelled a visit to Indonesia on Saturday in order to visit displaced foreign national in Chatsworth, as well as the community of Umlazi, both in Durban.

Cheered and jeered

He was cheered and jeered as he attempted to calm xenophobic tensions during a quick whirlwind visit to the refugee camp in Chatsworth, News24's Giordano Stolley reported on Saturday.

“We are not saying to you go away as government. It is yourselves who are saying that you need to be helped to go home,” Zuma told the crowd.

When he arrived, a large crowd quickly gathered and started chanting: “Too late. We go home.”

“We are calling on all South Africans to participate in helping to make the life better for you [the refugees],” he continued.

 “It is not every South African who is saying you must go away. Not at all. It is a very small number of people who say so.”

Zuma said that the government would address the violence against foreigners.

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DA Western Cape backs Maimane for party leader

Paul Herman

Cape Town - The newly-elected leadership team of the Democratic Alliance’s Western Cape branch has expressed its backing for Mmusi Maimane in his candidacy for party leader.

Just under 1 000 people, including delegates, party supporters and journalists, were present at His People’s Church in Goodwood, Cape Town for the DA’s Western Cape provincial congress on Saturday.

The Western Cape delegates of the party were due to vote in a new party leader for the province, as well as candidates for six other positions.

Cape Town mayor Patricia De Lille won the position of DA Western Cape provincial leader with 69% of the vote, to her counterpart Lennit Max’s 31%.

Maimane, the DA’s current parliamentary leader, also addressed the sea of blue on Saturday in an early morning address, reaffirming his intent to run for party leader.

Maimane support

Speaking to the media following the reading of the provincial results, the newly-assembled Western Cape leadership team were quizzed by journalists on the topic of Maimane’s candidacy for party leader.

“I definitely will support Mmusi Maimane,” said DA Western Cape chairperson Anton Bredell.

“In the DA it’s a democratic process, so my colleagues will be allowed to decide which teams they will support after the closing of the candidates.

“But I believe Mmusi has the potential and the talent to be a fantastic national leader, to take over as national leader [from Helen Zille].

“I’ve got a challenge, and I will ask my colleagues to put up their hands: who will join me in supporting Mmusi Maimane?” he asked.

At that point, every member of the new DA Western Cape leadership put up their hands, seemingly surprising even themselves, much to the humour of everyone present.

“We will also convene a meeting with all our delegates going to the national congress in May, and we’ll invite Mmusi Maimane and all the candidates who must still be nominated to come and speak to the delegates and explain to us what they can offer,” De Lille added.

'Restore hope'

Earlier on Saturday, Maimane released a statement officially accepting the nomination to stand as the DA's leader, saying it is his chance to "restore hope" in the country's future.

"It has not been an easy decision," he said in a letter sent to the DA's public representatives on Saturday morning.

"I have thought long and hard about what it means for my young family. And I have had to consider whether the timing is right.

"In the end, I decided to accept this nomination because it is a unique opportunity to restore hope in the nation's future," he said.

‘Humbled’

De Lille, meanwhile, said she was humbled to be voted in as the party’s Western Cape head.

“Baie Dankie! Thank you very much!” De Lille said to a jubilant crowd after being named new party leader in the province.

“I’m very humbled by the confidence you’ve shown in me. As I stand here, I want to pay tribute toHelen Zille.

“Over nearly a decade now, Helen has done more than anyone else in this country to realign opposition politics.

“She has lead the DA to become the real fighting force that can offer a new path for our country. Thank you Helen.

“The WC is the heartland of the DA, and it’s going to stay that way,”