Story of the Day

While you were sleeping

Allister Sparks passes away

Veteran journalist Allister Sparks has died of a heart attack. Sparks, the former editor of the Rand Daily Mail, was a key opponent to the apartheid state and a constant thorn in government’s side. Despite some controversial views later in his career, expect messages of sympathy all day and week. Read More

NYC bombing suspect arrested

A suspect believed to be responsible for the bombings in New York and New Jersey has been arrested. Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, was spotted by a police officer, and was promptly shot in his bullet proof vest. A shootout ensued and Rahami was wounded (and arrested). Read More

50 killed in DRC riots

Opposition protests in Kinshasa on Monday saw 50 killed by police. Opposition groups have now called for nationwide protests against President Kabila. With all sides demanding his departure, Simon Allison takes a look at why he’s staying mum.

Google phone expected next month

Invitations were sent out by Google late on Monday for an October 4 “special” event. Strong hints indicated that the tech giant is set to unveil their own smartphone. The timing – during a Samsung exploding battery scandal and dubious iPhone “courage-loaded” tech – could not have been more strategic.Read More

In Numbers

30

Facts of the Day

Today in 2011 saw the US military abolish its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on homosexuality.

A pill exists called “Father Christmas” that makes your farts smell like chocolate.

Weather

Financial Data

BFN: min: 8° max: 27°, sunny
CPT: min: 12° max: 20°, cloudy
DBN: min: 16° max: 25°, cloudy
EL: min: 17° max: 24°, cloudy
JHB: min: 8° max: 20°, sunny
KIM: min: 13° max: 27°, sunny
NLP: min: 11° max: 28°, cloudy
PMB: min: 4° max: 27°, sunny
PKN: min: 8° max: 25°, sunny
PE: min: 14° max: 20°, cloudy
PTA: min: 9° max: 26°, sunny

Now on Daily Maverick

FEATURES  

	Analysis: SARS Makwakwa probe – are we heading for another costly, discredited investigation?  By Marianne Thamm
	Zuma’s legal missteps and malfunctions: The law of unintended consequences strikes again  By Stephen Grootes
	Analysis: Nzimande’s offer to cover the poor tests students’ resolve on free education  By Greg Nicolson
	Op-Ed: Demise of the ANC – a tentative understanding  By Raymond Suttner
	GroundUp Op-Ed: Does Zweli Mkhize have the integrity to be president?  By Nathan Geffen
	DRC: Kabila cracks down – and will probably get away with it  By Simon Allison
	Video: Evita’s Free Speech, Ep.56 – Evita hails Mama’s Botox & flies the h-air balloon of hate-speech  By Pieter-Dirk Uys
	Sk8 for Gr8: The creative collaborative hoping to redesign the futures of Woodstock’s kids  By Antoinette Muller

OPINIONISTA

	History keeps proving prophets of eco-apocalypse wrong  By Ivo Vegter
	Restoring Eskom: What’s making it ill?  By Jeff Rudin