South Africa, World
While you were sleeping: 15 November 2016
Obama warns of 'reality check' for Trump, Gambia follows through with ICC withdrawal, and supermoon draws eyes to the sky.
“You don’t stumble upon your heritage. It’s there, just waiting to be explored and shared.”
Robbie Robertson
STORY OF THE DAY
SASSA social grants distribution doomsday and behind the scenes move to save 17-million grants
By MARIANNE THAMM.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) now only has five months to prepare itself for taking over the mammoth task of distributing social grants worth R10-billion a month to about 17-million vulnerable South Africans. Last month, after committee members warned of a possible impending disaster, SASSA officials vowed they would return on 16 November to present a detailed plan to Parliament’s Social Development Portfolio Committee. Problem is, SASSA’s top officials have jetted off to a conference in Panama instead, cancelling their presentation at the last minute. What do they know that we don’t? A look into the current service provider’s shareholders notes offers a glimpse into the reality past the April 1 switchover deadline.
Obama cautions of a Trump ‘reality check’
President Barack Obama has warned that Donald Trump is in for the mother of all “reality checks” when entering office. Obama talked about the danger of Trump’s radical policy ambitions combined with his hiring of a certified right-wing moonbat as his strategist. Likening government to an “ocean liner” rather than a “speedboat”, Obama on Monday night was sceptical over the trajectory of Trump’s actual policy implementation.
Gambia notifies UN of ICC withdrawal
The Gambia has officially notified the United Nations of its intention to turn its back on human rights and pull out of the International Criminal Court. The formal notification serves as the final hurdle towards the one-year waiting period before the African country leaves the ICC. Kenya, Namibia and Uganda have also announced their intention to withdraw.
Supermoon sees the world look to the sky
The closest supermoon in seven decades drew heads upward across the world last night. In South Africa cloudy weather affected many viewing opportunities in Johannesburg and Durban. Cape Town provided good crowds, with the residents of city pouring out of their homes, going up the mountains and down to the beaches to get a good look.
South Africa bowled out Australia before lunch to take the second Test by an innings and 80 runs. Yesterday’s Afternoon Thing noted there was a chance of Australia ‘winning’, when in reality the Aussies appeared to wither entirely in front of Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada’s figures of 6-77 and 4-34 respectively.
IN NUMBERS
99%
The estimated percentage of wine that is meant to be opened within five years.
FACT OF THE DAY
Today is the International Day of the Imprisoned Writer. The day celebrates all writers who resist the oppression of the freedom of speech.
Henry Ford was the first major industrialist to give his workers both Saturday and Sunday off. His hope was that the extra leisure time would encourage motor vehicle use.
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