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While you were sleeping: 11 May 2017

While you were sleeping: 11 May 2017
John Stupart
By John Stupart
11 May 2017
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Zuma files late-minute delay on Gordhan papers, Comey-firing fallout continues, and AIDS sufferers to live to an average age of 78.





Thursday, 11 May 2017


“The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.”
Hannah Arendt




 



 















Tensions between Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini and Sassa officials bubbled beneath the surface at Wednesday’s presentation by the agency of its strategic plan and budget vote to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development. While Sassa CEO, Thokozani Magwaza, said it would take 12 months to phase in the in-house payment of social grants, Dlamini claimed it would take at least five years and cost around R6-billion which taxpayers should view as an investment. An unrepentant Dlamini also suggested that the Constitutional Court had been “influenced” by media reports in making its judgment criticising her conduct and that of Sassa officials in the SassaGate saga. 





 



 



 









Zuma conducts reshuffle lawfare



President Jacob Zuma has filed for leave to appeal against the High Court ruling that he provide records of his reasons for dismissing Pravin Gordhan. The late-Wednesday move is an obvious delaying tactic, with the Democratic Alliance calling the move just that. For ordinary South Africans, the move is simply another costly legal delay which appears to be the status quo.





 





New conference to change Somalia's future, maybe



A one-day conference in London kicks off today with the aim of kickstarting Somalia into hyper-development. Over 40 heads of state or representatives will attend, including major global funding organisations, all geared toward reaching new agreements with Somalia that could see the country leapfrog in terms of its growth path.





 









Rent-a-pilgrim rates soar ahead of Fatima weekend



Prices for hiring a "proxy pilgrim" ahead of Pope Francis' 13 May visit to the Portuguese town of Fatima and the sainthood of two children have soared. Although the dopple-pilgrims insist it's not about the money, it really kind of is. Rates have reached a princely 2,500 euros to hire a basic pilgrimage. Lighting of candles, saying of rosaries and knee-shuffling have all become rather expensive add-ons. The super-sized pilgrimage, it seems, is only for the elite.





 





Aids sufferers have 'near normal' lifespan



Researchers unveiled today a study that showed those infected with HIV-Aids in the United States or Europe can expect to live a near-normal length of time. A 20-year-old who began treatment any time since 2008 can expect to live to an average age of 78 years. Researchers attribute the longer life spans to improved treatment methods and medication.





 









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IN NUMBERS


1.5



The amount in millions of euros for which two brothers sold a counterfeit Goya painting. They later found out they had been paid in forged notes.





 









FACTS OF THE DAY



Today in 1997 Deep Blue, a supercomputer programmed to play chess, defeats Garry Kasparov. The machines have been learning ever since.


Ireland's population has still not recovered from the Great Famine





 









FEATURED ARTICLES






















































































































OPINIONISTAS















Caligula’s Horse: A cautionary tale


A column by PAUL HOFFMAN



 














































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