STEVE Tshwete, South Africa’s controversial safety and security minister, has been sworn in as acting president while President Thabo Mbeki visits Saudi Arabia and Deputy President Jacob Zuma visits Swaziland. Tshwete incensed the Portuguese community in South Africa earlier this month by accusing them of disloyalty. He also accused white South African women of being more interested in shopping than observing a national day, and has blamed urban terrorism in Cape Town on a Muslim group, despite lack of evidence, vowing to “wipe them off the face of … this country”. – AFP