--- title: "Weekly wrap-up: 13 March" description: "South Africa stares into junk status abyss, protests flare in Isithebe, and anger greets expected release of Chris Hani's killer." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "World" author: "Andrea Teagle" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/andreateagle/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-12-weekly-wrap-up-13-march/" published: "2016-03-12T03:17:37" updated: "2016-03-12T11:34:04" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 795 --- # Weekly wrap-up: 13 March > South Africa stares into junk status abyss, protests flare in Isithebe, and anger greets expected release of Chris Hani's killer. By Andrea Teagle · Published 12 March 2016, 05:17 SAST · Updated 12 March 2016, 13:34 SAST ## Content | \| \\| *"The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence."***- Charles Bukowski** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| \\| # This week's wrap up \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **South Africa stares into the junk status abyss** Notching up South Africa’s economic angst, which has been steadily building in inverse correlation with the economy’s performance, Moody’s this week put South Africa’s credit rating on review. The ratings agency cited increasing risks to our economic prospects as the reason for the decision. And so it’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and co. to the rescue again next week, to attempt to [convince Moody’s that SA is taking the necessary steps](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-03-11-open-letter-to-moodys-et-al-give-us-a-few-more-months-please/) to avert further economic shocks. Meanwhile, with the current account deficit having widened by more than expected in the last quarter of last year, we’re likely looking at [another interest rate hike](http://www.bdlive.co.za/economy/2016/03/09/deficit-and-rand-dilemma-for-reserve-bank) next week. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Chris Hani’s killer sniffs freedom** The man who pulled the trigger that ended the life of anti-Apartheid struggle hero Chris Hani is [due to be released on bail](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-10-anti-apartheid-hero-chris-hanis-killer-to-be-freed-lawyer/) in the next couple of weeks. In the absence of appeal, Janusz Walus, who has spent the last 23 years in prison, will join co-conspirator Clive Derby-Lewis outside bars (perhaps not exclusively of the jail variety). The ANC called the release ‘a travesty of justice’. Some agree that the judge was biased; others maintain that the rule of law has prevailed without emotional interference. [Enter the rabbit hole](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-10-report-after-23-years-hani-murderer-gets-his-reprieve-but-the-pain-he-inflicted-remains/#.VuKBJ7TfLdk) of the debate. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Petrol-bombed: Will you listen now?** Just days after the first voters’ registration drive for the [2016 municipal elections](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-09-local-government-elections-2016-sas-big-issue-poll/#.VuLBGLTfLdk), disillusionment with democracy bubbled violently to the surface with protests in the northern KwaZulu-Natal town of Isithebe. Residents, angered by lack of service delivery and perceived nepotism, [petrol-bombed four factories](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-10-op-ed-strife-in-kwazulu-natal-economic-sabotage-must-be-dealt-with/#.VuKMMbTfLdk) – annihilating one – on Monday night. On Thursday, in a separate protest, residents of Gomora informal settlement in Hercules, Pretoria, took to the streets in similar frustration. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **Trump: Islam hates America \\\| Rubio: Er, no.** Republican contender Marco Rubio on Thursday criticized Trump for his latest verbal offense – "Islam hates us, there's a tremendous hatred"– with the observation that many Muslims were proud Americans. [The debate](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/03/10/rubio_trump_debate_islam.html) was unusually policy-centered and devoid of poisonous personal attacks. Possibly Trump was feeling if not tolerant, then unusually restrained with Michigan and Mississippi under his belt and a Florida victory fast approaching. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Editor's Picks \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **[A former Media24 journalist criticises the country's biggest online news publication for publishing AIDS denialism.](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-11-groundup-no-credibility-as-a-researcher-a-letter-to-news24/#.VuLHBrTfLdk)** By GROUNDUP.[State capture: Did the Guptas offer Treasury's top job to Deputy Minister Jonas?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-10-state-capture-did-the-guptas-offer-treasurys-top-job-to-deputy-minister-mcebisi-jonas/#.VuLdnLTfLdk)By MARIANNE THAMM[This Way Out: Holomisa's “exit strategy” for Jacob Zuma](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-this-way-out-holomisas-exit-strategy-for-jacob-zuma/#.VuLfabTfLdk) By RANJENI MUNUSAMY[Trainspotter: The Madness of King Mbeki, HIV/AIDS edition](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-07-trainspotter-the-madness-of-king-mbeki-hivaids-edition/#.VuLftbTfLdk). By RICHARD POPLAK \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Video of the Week \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| [YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-hIXxLiM6s) \| \| --- \| | | \| **Ridealong**By murder rate, Cape Town is the ninth most dangerous city in the world. In this series, **Shaun Swingler**of Daily Maverick Chronicle spends time with the Cape Town Metro Police Gang and Drug Task Team to take a look at what it’s like to police gangs and drugs in Cape Town. \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| # Fact of the week \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| *Hydra (n.): sea creature that fuses closed its mouth after it has eaten, only to tear open a new mouth before its next meal.*The hydra, in Greek mythology a servant with many heads, is possibly cooler in reality. [Watch its mouth creating/destroying skills](http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/08/this-animal-tears-its-skin-apart-every-time-it-opens-its-mouth/) in action. \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| # Culture Dose \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| ***Joburg*** **Africa Chic! –**A night ofAfrican francophone fashion and music hosted at the Goodluck Bar at the Sheds @1 Fox. Your Saturday night is sorted, compliments of the Alliance Francaise and the French Institute (IFAS).From 6pm.**RapidLion South African International Festival of Film**is one pf SA's leading documentary film festivals, tackling a range of contemporary topics and rights topics this very weekend. Check out your options [at the Market Theatre.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4) \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| ***Cape Town*** **Cape Town Carnival.**Where defiance of convention and acceptance is the aim, and floats, costumes and music are a guaranteed. Festivities begin at 3pm and the carnival at 6pm.**Greenpop Reforest Family Festival**is your ultimate 'green', non-ageist music festival. There will be tree-planting. In fact, the festival will leave more than 8000 trees planted in its wake. R360p/p \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| ***Durban*** **Durban International Jazz Extravaganza**presents international jazz sensations international Lee Ritenour and Spyro at the Durban International Convention Centre. 7pm. R400 per person. \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| \\| # Sporting Weekend \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\\| \\\| \\\| --- \\\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| \| \\| \\\| \\\\| **Rugby** *Saturday:* Super Rugby: Highlanders v Lions 08:35 Rebels v Reds 10:45 Sunwolves v Cheetahs 12:55 Kings v Chiefs 15:05 Stormers v SHarks 17:15 *Six Nations:* Ireland v Italy 15:30 England v Wales 18:00 \\\\| \\\\| --- \\\\| \\\| \\\| --- \\\| \\| \\| --- \\|\\| \\\| \\\\| **Soccer** *Saturday:*Black Aces v TUKS 15:30 Pirates v Cosmos 20:15 *Sunday:*Platinum Stars v Ajax 15:30 Celtic v FS Stars 15:30 \\\\| \\\\| --- \\\\| \\\| \\\| --- \\\| \\| \\| --- \\|\\| \\\| \\\\| **Cricket** *Saturday:* World T20 Afg v Zim 11:30 HK v Scot 16:00 *Sunday:* Ire v Neth 11:30 Ban v Oman 16:00 \\\\| \\\\| --- \\\\| \\\| \\\| --- \\\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| | | --- | | \| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| |