--- title: "While you were sleeping: 2 September 2016" description: "Over a million take to the streets in Venezuela, SpaceX in explosive launch failure, and Argentina saved from a Messi qualifier." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "South Africa" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-02-while-you-were-sleeping-2-september-2016/" published: "2016-09-02T06:07:38" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 669 --- # 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. By John Stupart · Published 2 September 2016, 08:07 SAST ## Content | \| \\| *“To you, I'm an atheist. To God, I'm the loyal opposition.”* ***–*****Woody Allen** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| \\| # Story of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\\| ![Image](//gallery.mailchimp.com/6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f/images/ffc99fc0-7a29-4172-93ae-681902ed07a4.jpg) \\\| \\\| --- \\\|\\\| ## [Quiet Please: Ramaphosa’s noiseless condoms and silent politics](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-02-quiet-please-ramaphosas-noiseless-condoms-and-silent-politics/#.V8jr4_l95hE)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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-02-quiet-please-ramaphosas-noiseless-condoms-and-silent-politics/#.V8jr4_l95hE) \\\| \\\| --- \\\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # While you were sleeping \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## A million march in VenezuelaThe 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-02-biggest-demo-in-decades-pressures-venezuela-president) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## SpaceX in explosive setbackSpaceX'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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-02-launch-pad-blast-destroys-spacex-rocket-facebook-satellite) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Harare protests bannedTaking 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-02-zimbabwe-police-ban-anti-mugabe-protests-in-harare) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Argentina get World Cup qualifying off to good startIn 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-02-football-messi-strikes-back-as-argentina-sink-uruguay) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # 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](http://dailymaverick.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f&id=6c17d969dc&e=371f6bebf2) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Now on Daily Maverick### **FEATURES**\\\| ![Image](//ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/vmrVAc6M-RYMFE_XrL28tA4naBvKJQymf9BDfknnPOZIeME_kG-_kw5RSW6ylE7OaZ_X24kCsKY2r3gkMYwP2jrovtmcO-QCd-oVTN3hx5el8vOfqGUb2RA66_TRgnuuDNGaiQen0QEWcbgHvnGxD_g=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70ramaphosa-in-parliament.jpg)questions in Parliament (eNCA)" /> \\\| [Quiet Please: Ramaphosa’s noiseless condoms and silent politics](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-02-quiet-please-ramaphosas-noiseless-condoms-and-silent-politics/) By Ranjeni Munusamy \\\| \\\| --- \\\| --- \\\| \\\| ![Photo: President Jacob Zuma and SAA Chairwoman Dudu Myeni (GCIS)](//ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/wPHVGrfxBQmQyHUVXSa1cbjt2ge1e22Zm7NwyHeexqTKKyDK5XlHzcwxK3RHuaLNkM_Jnn2MKf0df3W0hOJVsEEmsSsWLMXszOixnwgvPsRdccf-OG3QAxcQioXLDUX2H_iTHDrPlzB2Dl0uYIM=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Marianne-SAAnewboard.jpg) \\\| [SAA: In a big tactical win, Treasury submits new board nominees](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-01-saa-in-a-big-tactical-win-treasury-submits-new-board-nominees/) By Marianne Thamm \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/xz_7KIGIu4vzjQHztQhRqTsm9MlRroaaV1XJX8yRZ6jovmcjFNIQN-Fif-xM_ZY5cage-Rs8039AD7PFhowF_krRB4U3NNJjnUsDl6XscxiepjqPzQXNY_We-mFVWTuDeW57xtmcdAgIl3qigfz0H_kV0h2Lrk7dVUUWVrM=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Nicolson-New-trade-union-federation.jpg)conference in Johannesburg, Thursday, 25 August 2011, Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA" /> \\\| [Vavi & Co: New union federation almost ready to launch](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-01-vavi-co-new-union-federation-almost-ready-to-launch/) By Greg Nicolson \\\| \\\| ![Photo: Nokuthula Simelane.](//ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/iIiuMouO31Db8OqPlrcAk5lFb_qGMqQ-sWEL0ziwJlqB1olMoSdZ91XMIzNyzUCx5MPHC7c0lbHYGl_7Ei8uLFvBT0fgbJo5wVx9FCGNAxxR_s35lnQjPrryQokSYCIZG5OiwRXqhI-yw4jTCgmZ__HBnzJ58Yh9qIWcsojqGTTMF_hJZSwKy0cf88A=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Kevin-Bloom-An-apartheid-murder-reckoning-part-III.jpg) \\\| [An apartheid murder reckoning (Part III): PW Botha’s ‘realm of criminality’, legal costs and Nokuthula Simelane](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-01-an-apartheid-murder-reckoning-part-iii-pw-bothas-realm-of-criminality-legal-costs-and-nokuthula-simelane/) By Kevin Bloom \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/8vdM9oBBo7wJDXGIJ2epqvAUsdyWTm-mJJtpnX4elofp_cNVbTjqoFN2U9vaXhIqD8EppLjCaUy7pi1t3XrXPhHkV-JTg_h0UIMbhIIBcJFPQ8B33u_M-9LfoMp_xhZR1CkWlWfIC8xJ87k=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Hoffman-where-now.jpg)Summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 25 February 2014. 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