Weekly wrap: 21 May

A smuggled bodyguard, a protest and two rescued girls

By Andrea Teagle

21 May 2016

“We're all going to die, all of us, what a circus!"

- Charles Bukowski

This week's wrap-up

Fort Hare: Centenary “celebrations”
South Africa is so steeped in fuel for revolution, one spark is enough to ignite protests across the nation. On Friday, the University of Fort Hare's centenary celebrations forged ahead despite protests, and in the wake of one burnt building and 14 arrests the previous evening. Heavy security accompanied the main acts: President Zuma and Zimbabwean President Mugabe, the latter obviously carefully picked as a choice role-model for aggrieved students.

In this week’s episode of parliamentary mayhem…
EFF representatives were forcibly removed from parliament on Tuesday afterallegedly smuggling in a bodyguard. The EFF is insisting that disciplinary action be taken against Zuma before he be allowed to National Assembly. Given the ANC’s acceptance of Zuma’s “apology”, ANC Secretary-General GwedeMantashe’s investigation into allegations of Gupta state capture is not inspiring much confidence of proper handling.

Girls brought back
Two years after Boko Haram kidnapped 219 schoolgirls in Chibok in northeast Nigeria, two were rescued this week. Sani Usman was among 100 hostages rescued on Thursday, while Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki was found on Tuesday in Sambisa forest, with her four month old baby. Authorities are hopeful that more rescues will follow.

Sleuthing for economic clues
Ratings agency Standard & Poor was in the country this week, sniffing for signs of economic growth potential and policy stability ahead of its review of our international credit rating next month. The rand took a knock this week withrumours of Finance Minister’s Gordhan’s ‘imminent arrest’ still circling. Economists (and markets) predict a downgrade by year-end.

Sixty-six killed in suspected terroism crash
A plane carrying 66 people crashed into the Mediterranean on Thursday in what authorities suspect was an act of terrorism. The debris of EgyptAir Flight 804 has since been found 290km from Alexandria.

Video of the week

A Tale of Momentum & Inertia

Stash Creative

Fact of the Week

Ants can support 5,000 times their body weight before their necks snap.Researchers from The Ohio State University tested the joints of the ants by actually taking the ants apart (they stress that the insects were anesthetised first). They hope that better understanding of how ants withstand force will aid future robotics designs.

Sporting weekend

Tennis: 2016 French Open, through which Serena hopes to match Steffi Graf's record 22 Grand Slams, and Djokovich hopes to take home his first Roland Garros title.

Sunday: Day 1: 10:45am-10pm.

Super rugby
Saturday: Reds v Sunwolves, 7.05am; Chiefs v Rebels, 09.35am; Force v Blues, 11.45am; Lions v Jaguars, 3pm; Sharks v Kings,5.10pm; Bulls v Stormers, 7.20pm.

Soccer (ABSA Premiership):
All at 3pm: Mamelodi Sundowns v Platinum Stars, Black aces v Free State stars

(Soccer cont.) Jomo Cosmos v Maritzburg Utd; Kaizer Chiefs v Chippa Utd; Bloem Celtic v Polokwane City; Ajax Cape Town v Bidvest Wits; Tuks v Golden Arrows; Orland pirates V SuperSport Utd.

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