South Africa

Maverick Life, South Africa

While you were sleeping: 17 August 2016

While you were sleeping: 17 August 2016

Poor day in Rio for SA, Forest fires cause havoc in California, and "I am Cait" cancelled.

“I cannot bear to associate with the ordinary run of people. I have to surround myself with individuals who for the most part are more than a trifle insane”

 Wallace Thurman

Story of the Day

LGE2016: Hung municipalities destined for minority councils as EFF opts to abstain 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will on Wednesday finally announce the role it intends to play in local government following intense negotiations over possible coalitions. With both the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) unable to secure the EFF’s support for coalition governments in the hung metros, negotiations were still underway with smaller parties on Tuesday on the formation of minority councils. The new councils will now be in uncharted territory with posts, policies and budgets all up for debate and no majority to push these through. Continued turbulence at national level could also impact on the functioning of municipalities. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY.
Read more

While you were sleeping

Poor track day at Rio

It was another tough night out on the track for South Africa’s athletes. None of the hurdlers managed to make it through to their semi-finals. All started well, but faded towards the end. But Sunette Viljoen did qualify for the women’s javelin final and Chad Ho finished in the top 10 of people swimming 10km in open water. If you missed any of the action, here’s our blow-by-blow account.Read More

California fires cause havoc

More than 82,000 California residents have been forced to evacuate due to raging forest fires. No fatalities have been reported as yet, and two trapped firefighters have since been rescued. The fires, however, have shown little sign of slowing down. Read More

Day 12 at Rio

Big one coming up today: Caster Semenya runs in the 800m heats at 16:02. Some other South African action includes Willem Coertzen taking part in the decathlon with events starting at around 14:30. Then there’s Elroy Gelant in the 5,000m and BMX racer Kyle Dodd will show his stuff. There are other events too and you can follow the action on our live blog right here.

‘I am Cait’ cancelled

Caitlyn Jenner’s series has been shelved after two seasons. Poor ratings were given as the reason behind the decision. The show attempted to initiate thought-provoking, genuine debate on gender, sprinkled with spa days and an unhealthy dose of first world problems. Read More

In Numbers

3

The number, in millions, of shipwrecks estimated to remain undiscovered in the ocean. Less than 1% have been found.

Facts of the Day

Today is Marcus Garvey’s birth date. The prominent activist and politician was born in 1887.

Processed cheese slices are not actually sliced. They are placed on the plastic sheets as blobs of pseudo-cheese, and flattened into shape. Scrumptious.

Weather & Financial Data

BFN: min: 12° max: 22°, rainy
CPT: min: 11° max: 21°, sunny
DBN: min: 18° max: 23°, cloudy
EL: min: 17° max: 25°, cloudy
JHB: min: 6° max: 22° sunny
KIM: min: 14° max: 20°, cloudy
NLP: min: 8° max: 24°, cloudy
PMB: min: 11° max: 24°, rainy
PKN: min: 8° max: 21°, cloudy
PE: min: 15° max: 23°, cloudy
PTA: min: 9° max: 23°, cloudy

Oil=$49.30
Gold=$1,348.30
Platinum=$1,118.70
R/$=13.35
R/€=15.06
R/£=17.41
€/$=1.12
JSE All Share=52,396.40
DJIA= 18,582.70
FTSE 100=6,893.92
Source

Now on Daily Maverick

 

FEATURES  

Photo: Julius Malema, leader of the opposition party Economic Freedom
Fighters (EFF), addresses supporters at the launch of the party’s
local election manifesto in Soweto, near Johannesburg, South Africa, 30
April 2016. EPA/CORNELL TUKIRI. LGE2016: Hung municipalities destined for minority councils as EFF opts to abstain 
By Ranjeni Munusamy
Photo: A settlement known simply as RDP, near Lonmin’s K4 shaft,
Mariakana. Photo Greg Marinovich Report: The SA Platinum Belt’s silent struggle with sexual assault 
By Marelise van der Merwe
Photo by Pim Stouten via Flickr. Long-awaited ‘Border Bill’ finds resistance in Parliament 
By Marianne Merten
Photo: Zambian president elect, Edgar C Lungu, at his presidential
inauguration in the capital Lusaka, Zambia, 25 January 2015. EPA/NOEL
MACKSON Free, but not fair: Zambia’s flawed elections 
By Simon Allison
Photo: Swatziland’s King Mswati III seeks investment from Taiwan
as he meets with Taiwan business leaders at a forum in Taipei, Taiwan, 21
May 2015. EPA/DAVID CHANG Op-Ed: Absolute monarchy assumes chairmanship of SADC
By Peter Kenworthy
Photo: Boarding a bus in Luanda (S Martin via Flickr) Angola to silence social media with new regulatory body 
By MAKA ANGOLA
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the World Olympians
Forum in Moscow, Russia, 21 October 2015. EPA/ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO Doping and Imperialism: The Modern Relationship between Sport and War 
By Daniel Gallan
Photo: A handout photo provided by the Office of the President of
Taiwan on 12 July 2016 shows an aerial photograph of Taiping Island, also
known as Itu Aba Island in the South China Sea, 23 March 2016.  EPA/OFFICE
OF THE PRESIDENT TAIWAN / HANDOUT United We Stand, Divided We Fall: ASEAN skirts around the South China Sea ruling 
By Mandira Bagwandeen
Peshmerga forces shoot as they take part in an operation to liberate
several villages currently under the control of the Islamic State southeast
of Mosul, north Iraq, 14 August 2016. The operation aims to recapture 11
villages, according to sources thus far six were successfully retaken with
the help of US-led air support. The liberation of the villages from Islamic
State forces serves as a buffer zone to protect Kurdish held-cities from IS
attacks and is a stepping stone to eventually recapture the city of Mosul
itself. EPA/ANDREA DICENZO While you were sleeping: 16 August 2016 
By John Stupart
Anaso Jobodwana of South Africa celebrates after placing third in the
men's 200m final during the Beijing 2015 IAAF World Championships at the
National Stadium, also known as Bird's Nest, in Beijing, China, 27 August
2015. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON Rio 2016 day 11 as it happened: All the South African action from the Olympics on Tuesday 
By Daily Maverick Team
Photo: Caster Semenya of South Africa celebrates after winning the
women 800 metres race at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea athletics meeting as
part of the IAAF Diamond League at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Italy, 02
June 2016. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI Rio 2016, live blog, day 12: All the South African action from the Olympics on Wednesday 
By Daily Maverick Team

OPINIONISTA

 

IvoVegterBW Keep calm and eat meat 
By Ivo Vegter
Andrew-Gasnolar.jpg A realignment of our politics 
By Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar
Gallery

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