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While you were sleeping: 2 September 2016

While you were sleeping: 2 September 2016
Over a million take to the streets in Venezuela, SpaceX in explosive launch failure, and Argentina saved from a Messi qualifier.

























“To you, I'm an atheist. To God, I'm the loyal opposition.”

Woody Allen










































Story of the Day
































Quiet Please: Ramaphosa’s noiseless condoms and silent politics 



When, if ever, will Cyril Ramaphosa speak up? When the deputy president said at the funeral of ANC veteran Makhenkesi Stofile last week that he took “personal responsibility” for the ANC’s sub par performance in the elections, it appeared he might finally be ready to take a stand. But Ramaphosa still seems unwilling to stick his neck out. On Thursday, while answering questions in Parliament, Ramaphosa seemed delighted to market government’s new fruity flavoured, “maximum pleasure” condoms. Playing it safe, it appears, is the deputy president’s primary concern – even though many people wish he would rise up and show leadership. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.
Read more



































While you were sleeping


















A million march in Venezuela


The largest demonstration in Venezuela in decades has seen over a million people head to the streets. The anti-government march focused on demands for a referendum on ousting President Nicolás Maduro and his government. Over a million protestors have to be rather difficult to ignore. Read More
















SpaceX in explosive setback


SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket exploded yesterday during pre-launch preparation. The rocket was set to deliver a now-destroyed Facebook satellite intended to beam free internet to Sub-Saharan Africa. The theory, according to Elon Musk, was that a fuelling issue in an oxygen tank caused the explosion. Read More
















Harare protests banned


Taking a leaf out of the SABC's book, the Zimbabwean government has improved the formula of suppression by banning all protests for two weeks. Police chief Newbert Saunyama announced his forces' inability to police ongoing protests in Harare. For a state obsessed with security, the insecurity of the police is alarming in of itself. Read More
















Argentina get World Cup qualifying off to good start


In what has to be one of the shortest periods of retirement, Lionel Messi has returned from the shadows to help Argentina defeat Uruguay 1-0. The opening 2018 World Cup qualifier match saw the 10-man Argentinian squad victorious through Messi's boot. Read More








































In Numbers

































100









The number of firefighters in the US arrested for arson per year.








































Facts of the Day


















Today in 1945, Japan officially signed its surrender to the Allies during WWII, effectively ending the war.

The ampersand (&) was once the 27th letter of the alphabet.

































Weather










Financial Data


















BFN: min: 11° max: 26°, sunny
CPT: min: 12° max: 19°, cloudy
DBN: min: 18° max: 23°, cloudy
EL: min: 18° max: 22°, cloudy
JHB: min: 7° max: 24° cloudy
KIM: min: 14° max: 27°, sunny
NLP: min: 6° max: 27°, sunny
PMB: min: 11° max: 26°, cloudy
PKN: min: 9° max: 25°, sunny
PE: min: 15° max: 21°, cloudy
PTA: min: 8° max: 26°, sunny










Oil=$45.71
Gold=$1,313.55
Platinum=$1,047.39
R/$=14.67
R/€=16.43
R/£=19.48
€/$=1.11
JSE All Share=52,631.33
DJIA= 18,324.32
FTSE 100=6,745.97
Source
































Now on Daily Maverick


 

FEATURES  





































Photo: A screengrab of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa answering
<br>questions in Parliament (eNCA) Quiet Please: Ramaphosa’s noiseless condoms and silent politics 
By Ranjeni Munusamy
Photo: President Jacob Zuma and SAA Chairwoman Dudu Myeni (GCIS) SAA: In a big tactical win, Treasury submits new board nominees 
By Marianne Thamm
Photo: Then Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi speaks at a news
<br>conference in Johannesburg, Thursday, 25 August 2011, Picture: Werner
<br>Beukes/SAPA Vavi & Co: New union federation almost ready to launch 
By Greg Nicolson
Photo: Nokuthula Simelane. An apartheid murder reckoning (Part III): PW Botha’s ‘realm of criminality’, legal costs and Nokuthula Simelane 
By Kevin Bloom
Photo: SA Public Protector Thuli Madonsela opens the African Ombudsman
<br>Summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 25 February 2014. Picture: Werner
<br>Beukes/SAPA. Op-Ed: South Africa needs Integrity Commission 
By Paul Hoffman
Photo: Girls wore their school ties as bandanas during their protest.
<br>Photo: Bernard Chiguvare GroundUp: HairGate – Now Sans Souci schoolgirls protest against alleged racist school policies 
By GroundUp
Photo: President Jacob Zuma and Atul Gupta (GCIS) Gupta-owned Oakbay Resources saved from being booted off JSE 
By News24
Photo: Pravin Gordhan (Greg Nicolson) SARS Wars: Gordhan – I am not above the law and have cooperated fully 
By Daily Maverick Staff Reporter


OPINIONISTA





















Pierre de vos Who’s watching the Hawks? 
By Pierre de Vos
Wayne Duvenage Dear Moral Investor: Would you invest in rotting State-Owned Entities? 
By Wayne Duvenage
MareliseBW What’s going on hair? 
By Marelise van der Merwe
richard-raber.jpg Environmental racism in the post-racial era 
By Richard Raber