---
title: "While you were sleeping: 7 September 2016"
description: "Syrian regime allegedly uses chemical bombs, Mexican police helicopter shot down, and 12 year old starts university."
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/2016-09-07-while-you-were-sleeping-7-september-2016/"
published: "2016-09-07T06:02:07"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 721
---

# While you were sleeping: 7 September 2016

> Syrian regime allegedly uses chemical bombs, Mexican police helicopter shot down, and 12 year old starts university.

By John Stupart · Published 7 September 2016, 08:02 SAST

## Content

| \| \\| *“I haven't met a cake I didn't like.”*  **–****Amy Clipston** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| |
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| \| \\| # Story of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\\| ![Image](//gallery.mailchimp.com/6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f/images/5fd9798c-536a-4f16-ba6c-0d4d560f87b8.jpg) \\\| \\\| --- \\\|\\\| ## [SARS Wars: Purge has left SARS criminal investigative capacity vulnerable](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-sars-wars-purge-has-left-sars-criminal-investigative-capacity-vulnerable/#.V8-DOZh9600)Several highly trained SARS investigators who for years have exposed criminal syndicates, individuals and networks in the illicit economy, raking in billions in unpaid VAT and taxes, have been effectively kneecapped by commissioner Tom Moyane’s ongoing “restructuring” of the country’s revenue service. This is part of the fallout from the still untested “rogue unit” allegations that have also driven the deep rift between the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane, the Hawks, the NPA and ultimately President Jacob Zuma. By MARIANNE THAMM. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-sars-wars-purge-has-left-sars-criminal-investigative-capacity-vulnerable/#.V8-DOZh9600) \\\| \\\| --- \\\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # While you were sleeping \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Chemical attacks in SyriaThe Syrian regime has been accused of using chlorine barrel bombs in a recent attack. Dozens of civilians in Aleppo had to be treated for breathing problems following the assault by al-Assad's helicopters. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-dozens-choke-in-syria-aleppo-after-barrel-bomb-attacks) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Criminals down police helicopterA police helicopter in Mexico has been downed by criminals in Michoacan state. A pilot and three police officers were killed in the crash. Authorities are not saying, however, how the chopper was brought down. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-criminals-down-police-helicopter-in-mexico-four-dead) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Rousseff leaves palaceBrazil's newly-impeached president Dilma Rousseff has officially left the presidential palace. Stepping out of Alvorada Palace and marking the end of 13 years of rule by her party, Rousseff is effectively out of the political picture.[Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-brazils-rousseff-leaves-presidential-palace-for-good) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Twelve-year-old heads to universityA 12 year old Indonesian child has begun university at Waterloo, Ontario. While the rest of us were licking glue sticks and smoking behind the bike shed, Cendikiawan (Diki) Suryaatmadja was rapidly advancing through his schooling. He will study physics and mathematics, among other subjects. [Read More](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-12-year-olds-attend-university-in-canada-us) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\|  \| \| --- \|\| \\| # In Numbers \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **201 miles** \\| \\| --- \\|\\| The difference in diameter between Earth and Venus (Earth is larger). \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Facts of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| Today in 1895 the **first game of rugby** was played (in England).**Michael Jackson** used to regularly prank call Russell Crowe. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Weather \\| \\| --- \\|\\| # Financial Data \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| BFN: min: 13° max: 27°, cloudy CPT: min: 11° max: 18°, rainy DBN: min: 17° max: 24°, cloudy EL: min: 16° max: 20°, cloudy JHB: min: 11° max: 28°, sunny KIM: min: 15° max: 27°, sunny NLP: min: 9° max: 32°, sunny PMB: min: 11° max: 30°, cloudy PKN: min: 14° max: 28°, sunny PE: min: 15° max: 19°, cloudy PTA: min: 12° max: 28°, sunny \\| \\| --- \\|\\| Oil=$47.37 Gold=$1,348.85 Platinum=$1,097.70 R/$=13.97 R/€=15.72 R/£=18.77 €/$=1.12 JSE All Share=53,680.43 DJIA= 18,518.70 FTSE 100=6,826.05  [Source](http://dailymaverick.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f&id=6c17d969dc&e=371f6bebf2) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\|  \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Now on Daily Maverick### **FEATURES**\\\| ![Photo: SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane (GCIS)](//ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/yEYmm3bq0UKUoE_8Et34-UzKPzVJ_InF1QH7qn37yE2bILGutzQ5114ATCZAzYBJ7TiH9z711sXFQ4Hp4ihc9RsDDPEfxCerk9Slqi9paSpH8cHjxEHM1NM8rvJBFlhJ8H66XqQGnCZz-Cs=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Marianne-SARSCull.jpg) \\\| [SARS Wars: Purge has left SARS criminal investigative capacity vulnerable](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-sars-wars-purge-has-left-sars-criminal-investigative-capacity-vulnerable/)  By Marianne Thamm \\\| \\\| --- \\\| --- \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/3jWvE7zN9Iuc0oFa6UH95GfehAyyLvSoDGsFxEh229Scs2GHD-5JySbJ-BBsAw6C4LdNhKX2Z_GqocZDM2Q88k7C2cRnqPvClvlKkrWWnN7ylFP4FeGRTH25EF4krxggcLJCzezee-zRfcL2eA=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Poplak_Private-army.jpg)SABC." /> \\\| [TRAINSPOTTER: My Own Private Army – on militias, camouflage, and the ANC’s war against the ANC](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-trainspotter-my-own-private-army-on-militias-camouflage-and-the-ancs-war-against-the-anc/)  By Richard Poplak \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/JvRtu04CMEUHHu001uxl-h8CQuz9uD5eZkA2F5eaKGp0JSVZta3f5BKx_3RY_XC88r-K2eZKsNuu3aP0Lm1V581mXh8HDAMb3HHkZx0zfy5-H1ZeU5pXXyTb4EYJxd300E_n34v-BtkxRhqI5vty-5nK=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70robyn-mcbride-subbedm\(2\).jpg)Johannesburg on Thursday, 30 September 2010 during an appeal by the Citizen newspaper against an award of damages and defamation granted to him. Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA." /> \\\| [McBride wins the battle as the war rages on](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-06-mcbride-wins-the-battle-as-the-war-rages-on/)  By Greg Nicolson \\\| \\\| ![Main photo: Star Trek, the original crew.](//ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/ZqPsmjCxiHJPyhktTeq0Tmdv2sTYsPV1Nc4XfRNMMVYRTBr7IUCRSmUDU6bc36RQ33k_2wUlrnhjAigZgGdg4n-EiblZs0t-WWb7B7H2AiNCJx98hsVfrBZMq1kkUhYPTEDo5t_KCMIjRtSZGA=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70start-trek-original.jpg) \\\| [Resistance was futile: Star Trek has lived for 50 long years – and boy has it prospered](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-resistance-was-futile-star-trek-has-lived-for-50-long-years-and-boy-has-it-prospered/)  By J Brooks Spector \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/WHFaJpWu-Y96THyRyVktNgXMjm1Tzbu-Hg1A1RIbozSuc_temBNTCUk7WHxk3sJwxcH8w42uC-ZDt5M-UDPIb4EuhrkQ0JGAClS3JOF4JYOdttnFPWBgh3ccxVz3f3qcH1jSnhi7E3aRxaK9YIVzmJ0=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70GroundUp-land-sale-main.jpg)surrounds where there is a need to use publicly owned land for affordable housing." /> \\\| [GroundUp Op-Ed: City land sale will deepen class and race divide in Cape Town](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-groundup-op-ed-city-land-sale-will-deepen-class-and-race-divide-in-cape-town/)  By GroundUp \\\| \\\| ![Photo by Michael via Flickr.](//ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/taKyoK7eNgjFJdSBtuIa3ydo0p1E7eCLD6yede6yBI7LjdpYwz8jMe7X0b5BX2tBfzEgslMtmZMsQTFyCtHPb2gakYi8S7eDeAX2m6mjKfp9q2xF2ThsaGuT8-qRXLX1vOvBQwV8vymYBoEHKmWT_mnt=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Health-e-womens-shelters.jpg) \\\| [Gimme Shelter: The system is failing abused women who are desperate for safety](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-gimme-shelter-the-system-is-failing-abused-women-who-are-desperate-for-safety/)  By HEALTH-E NEWS \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/l94scAlMU3G9Cn_V-wo6t5D1Hr1C1Huf-H06o4bot0WFW6HPvXD4faYs4IZUSaIpT4hAOUw7K8zzEdUO3b_bhPwZ2UWfafDt_UVDj0_wurtD5pSU3m2EH9siLicCUOnqpK2VYBR5LYhEn0vFudOpQztJtg=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70ground-up-fees-commission.jpg)hearing in Cape Town. Here two students sit in front of the commissioners." /> \\\| [GroundUp: Students close down fees commission hearing](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-groundup-students-close-down-fees-commission-hearing/)  By GroundUp \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/UG9tI9KL1xuaSh64-5JxGdkYm8x4YdPaIVURvCQJrAjmVJMD81ZtmtOeFsRVpTbg9jEIrAP8eARsMULDKGzkPtEVFYH0i4v5yv0GZl5kg3WcPyOWQd7nF0uC_CqYQ55QUG_jDOVfqIY=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70achmat-hassiem.jpg)National Aquatic Championship Olympic at Kings Park Pool, Durban Kwa-Zulu Natal on 13 April 2016 © Muzi Ntombela/Backpagepix" /> \\\| [Rio 2016: These are the men and women representing South Africa at the 2016 Paralympians](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-07-rio-2016-these-are-the-men-and-women-representing-south-africa-at-the-2016-paralympians/)  By Antoinette Muller \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/cXybn7gA4MfU4ObdwZoKhH6gZPBoTse4BwrrDJ3WLlGtr3-1byYBkAIn7uvtp36Is_y_Jogh4gOBgQDYKbRXEL4Kom5TjcLRtbAHLgcSjGyTsrGcozh0UsnzM-VvHqw_KbnypA=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70h_53001670.jpg)is set alight to mark the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, in central London, Britain, 04 September 2016. The sculpture is a 120-meter-long, designed by US artist David Best and its lighting marks the end of festivities marking the Great Fire of London for four days in September 1666, that destroyed the majority of the city. EPA/WILL OLIVER" /> \\\| [While you were sleeping: 6 September 2016](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-06-while-you-were-sleeping-6-september-2016/)  By John Stupart \\\|### **OPINIONISTA**\\\| ![IvoVegterBW](//ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/ciAM4qJZ9CPpJ6XmXCdbBFz1Y2aIPzZuGHPIazJ1l0J8zeq3LCw_6oQSOIWk6fEGCdH4uhbdnu1k4IYbqrBrUK9kn4HKjda7rq38xP2mlJ4ht2_djFdi3F_eSKa-xb7dlwShfH3Q5yFambesu4_BNRcHsDOkkUE2U-E=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70562c5ffb4076dfd1ddee1be88f4bf94a.jpg) \\\| [Sugar tax will have negligible impact on public health](http://dailymaverick.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f&id=76b82be6f2&e=67d2420321)  By Ivo Vegter \\\| \\\| --- \\\| --- \\\| \\\| ![Judith-February.jpg](//ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/JB2qD7VlvqNieaJjE57DjfT5uh9KnKfMG9z6CkwAe0ojoGsEceltSG73bAhKzT4BzJjUHE0QAXpGngHedxHGM3GZwd8cpclko_TGpsrQ0_kSwCTSMdtRJvg_Xng-ErrIhLcx5kXujGed=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Judith-February.jpg) \\\| [Treason from within: SA wonders each day what fresh Hell will be unleashed](http://dailymaverick.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f&id=d6c09574ab&e=67d2420321)  By Judith February \\\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| |