South Africa calls up military to stop mob violence.

Africa: Death toll is now up to 42. I am irritated by the officials acting shocked over the violence when anyone could see this coming especially the last couple of years with the lax enforcement of immigration and Mbeki failure to help with the Mugabe situation.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki has called in troops to halt attacks on foreigners as the death toll from more than a week of violence nearly doubled and attacks began to spread. A statement from his office said Mbeki had agreed to a request from the police for the involvement of the army as it emerged that 42 people were now known to have died. "President Mbeki has approved a request from the South African Police Service for the involvement of the South African National Defence Force in stopping ongoing attacks on foreign nationals in Gauteng," the statement said, referring to a province which includes the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. While Mbeki's office did not give details on the nature of the army's role, national police spokeswoman Sally de Beer said they would provide a support role rather than take over. "We do not see them performing policing but rather acting in a back-up capacity," she told AFP. The army had equipment "that we might need for special operations" such as helicopters, she added. Defence ministry spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said there would be no deployment on Wednesday night but that troops would be in strife-hit areas "as soon as possible."

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