--- title: "While you were sleeping: 20 September 2016" description: "Allister Sparks passes away, NYC bomber arrested, and Google phone launch looms large." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Newsdeck" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-20-while-you-were-sleeping-20-september-2016/" published: "2016-09-20T06:14:54" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 697 --- # While you were sleeping: 20 September 2016 > Allister Sparks passes away, NYC bomber arrested, and Google phone launch looms large. By John Stupart · Published 20 September 2016, 08:14 SAST ## Content | \| \\| *“So often in this land of contradictions, even in its darkest corners there are inspiring rays of light.”***- Allister Sparks** \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| | | --- | | \| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Story of the Day \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\\| ![Image](//gallery.mailchimp.com/6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f/images/29a3d6e7-4ddb-428c-8db0-f606d5c83f7b.jpg) \\\| \\\| --- \\\|\\\| ## [Analysis: SARS Makwakwa probe – are we heading for another costly, discredited investigation?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-20-analysis-sars-makwakwa-probe-are-we-heading-for-another-costly-discredited-investigation/#.V-Cn5Pl95hE)South African Revenue Service Commissioner Tom Moyane, who could face criminal charges for sitting on a report from the Financial Intelligence Centre flagging suspicious activity in the bank accounts of now suspended SARS Chief Officer of Business and Individual Tax, Jonas Makwakwa, and his alleged partner Kelly-Ann Elskie, has appointed the international law firm Hogan Lovells to investigate the matter. Why aren’t the Hawks investigating, you might ask, and can Hogan Lovells, like KMPG, really be considered “independent” when SARS is both the client and the target? And how much will this cost taxpayers? By MARIANNE THAMM. [Read more](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-20-analysis-sars-makwakwa-probe-are-we-heading-for-another-costly-discredited-investigation/#.V-Cn5Pl95hE) \\\| \\\| --- \\\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # While you were sleeping \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Allister Sparks passes awayVeteran 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-20-sparks-seemed-like-a-man-who-would-go-on-forever-publisher) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## NYC bombing suspect arrestedA 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-20-new-york-bomb-suspect-charged-with-attempted-murder) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## 50 killed in DRC riotsOpposition protests in Kinshasa on Monday saw [50 killed by police](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-20-50-dead-in-clashes-in-dr-congo-capital-opposition). Opposition groups have now called for nationwide protests against President Kabila. With all sides demanding his departure, [Simon Allison takes a look](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-19-drc-kabila-cracks-down-and-will-probably-get-away-with-it/#.V-Cr0vl95hE) at why he's staying mum. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| ## Google phone expected next monthInvitations 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-20-google-smartphone-expected-at-oct.-4-event) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \| \| --- \|\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # In Numbers \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| **30** \\| \\| --- \\|\\| The number of years since Watford last defeated Manchester United. \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # 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 \\| \\| --- \\|\\| Oil=$46.14 Gold=$1,314.35 Platinum=$1,022.90 R/$=14.02 R/€=15.67 R/£=18.27 €/$=1.11 JSE All Share=18,144.62 DJIA= 18,123.80 FTSE 100=6,813.55 [Source](http://dailymaverick.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6170d6a6d93cac57e83ba137f&id=6c17d969dc&e=371f6bebf2) \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \|\| \\| # Now on Daily Maverick### **FEATURES**\\\| ![Image](//ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/kxrwOsd7h7wWVOgxOv7vmzcPvn_Zu9mdClE4lQ9fyKn032pWDGwjrMSbi18CNGhnO09w-Ar0a_vKZyPXHJ4D0W8CUA5W8f23zcMqnRd9MN90pG5b-bCGC52vATY0xC4DxIDqb1OZauXcoEDck8Y=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Marianne-LovellsSARS.jpg)Chief Officer of Business and Individual Tax, Jonas Makwakwa (SARS photo)" /> \\\| [Analysis: SARS Makwakwa probe – are we heading for another costly, discredited investigation?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-20-analysis-sars-makwakwa-probe-are-we-heading-for-another-costly-discredited-investigation/) By Marianne Thamm \\\| \\\| --- \\\| --- \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/HvgdzkzBYpR5bhinuq0x9CyDB_cSjw_2reVrbNs8l3Ee2PR_y_NQmilUTWQSgN_Z7zV5n3Fbf7QZoYLfPW_S0QP7_WO5mSBi7J-DYCm1TgSTEpT4xvQcMyqpA6f7bkWEIGU=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q7000032288.jpg)the SA Editors’ Forum at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria on Friday, 20 February 2015. Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA" /> \\\| [Zuma’s legal missteps and malfunctions: The law of unintended consequences strikes again](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-20-zumas-legal-missteps-and-malfunctions-the-law-of-unintended-consequences-strikes-again/) By Stephen Grootes \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Cvv7HzXSVmULSHyJQAC5rFy9t7bYJb_HeYq7-ohKi0pBB0Q-rTcxwTzCXlseUs6vB6PyFncbc_QS42bIv8nAwwiinzzVTjnw-T32RM3ujqFhWXYj46y28oS0bZjqmDTe34zLwPnFKj2JpEpR=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Greg-Nzimande-fees.jpg)parliament. 18/02/2015, Siyasanga Mbambani, DoC" /> \\\| [Analysis: Nzimande’s offer to cover the poor tests students’ resolve on free education](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-19-analysis-nzimandes-offer-to-cover-the-poor-tests-students-resolve-on-free-education/) By Greg Nicolson \\\| \\\| ![Photo of Raymond Suttner by Ivor Markman.](//ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/5HRsUcpxv94ZtXLbyhW8R8C70_Ooib5Hepawi-ouJLoS9bXyTQy7IIniRLp6ndtm7f29ZFDOCzanmyzjVIDEKfP48BJN4luZehAFtScB9WV61p_sfhlay9l5sxU9mQXM8OLsGYCvgKKBLFqp1YY-QvSqXw=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Suttner-Demise-of-the-ANC.jpg) \\\| [Op-Ed: Demise of the ANC – a tentative understanding](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-19-op-ed-demise-of-the-anc-a-tentative-understanding/) By Raymond Suttner \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/RV_2BCAiL6PLtQ1Nok0rXvpNTBbmLzxKgEGd6uQnZnq9bmVZCYS90ijgq3lno5WK-c5G8wUogPYHm3NmhBgmEExHo6Dp_rsY1fot0ho023h6IrAH_Q4xuY7LCrTmSLwCmHOanqxz0cg=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70GroundUp-Zweli.jpg)Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize (R) during an election rally in Greytown, South Africa, 11 May 2011. EPA/REINHARDT HARTZENBERG / S.A. GOVERNMENT" /> \\\| [GroundUp Op-Ed: Does Zweli Mkhize have the integrity to be president?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-19-groundup-op-ed-does-zweli-mkhize-have-the-integrity-to-be-president/) By Nathan Geffen \\\| \\\| ![Image](//ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/S9vgKAjelmqQOwqrVEe9jwb5NVxALmdYm4LKM6ZTgyDLL1BRpNPdrLGJHpKdkiJV8CjdmWWNwbVFJWRkIt78pzXIhAHFLGLU5h8JQZQ0b0eVgEw5JLqhOpOhM94vhsNC2_bFg5fPBzumpDP-=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Simon-DRC-protests.jpg)KAPPELER" /> \\\| [DRC: Kabila cracks down – and will probably get away with it](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-19-drc-kabila-cracks-down-and-will-probably-get-away-with-it/) By Simon Allison \\\| \\\| ![EFS-Ep56.jpg](//ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/JNZpm818f6G1J5wFPuKKD6r8Uk0w7dDoPYbT2bogiyxqK0mbXYfO2tCEipWXgFD3x0pKEhsEB9I-ZS1iqNpy3LXYZ7ax1m9o6woCmSID6hOYSZu8lEJOxxSy2hkSxo-8P9U=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70EFS-Ep56.jpg) \\\| [Video: Evita's Free Speech, Ep.56 – Evita hails Mama's Botox & flies the h-air balloon of hate-speech](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-19-video-evitas-free-speech-ep.56-evita-hails-mamas-botox-flies-the-h-air-balloon-of-hate-speech/) By Pieter-Dirk Uys \\\| \\\| ![Main photo by Devils Peak Photography](//ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/G964mrrHMgrspqLWfBLzuP6FgQfwov6cmdCkdQiuAwKO-7LgefXpXCEt_jLpzkMpwf5_y21d5A6IuquNmBCWROG6jDXr5MY4Jg_ekFi_1F-N2GCu7FGUWyKs3JYdQRsSpTp9z2IXniVQk9AUG0krPS27qptR0cs=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Ant-sk8-4-gr8-real-MAIN-PHOTO.jpg) \\\| [Sk8 for Gr8: The creative collaborative hoping to redesign the futures of Woodstock’s kids](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-09-19-sk8-for-gr8-the-creative-collaborative-hoping-to-redesign-the-futures-of-woodstocks-kids/) By Antoinette Muller \\\|### **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) \\\| [History keeps proving prophets of eco-apocalypse wrong](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-09-19-history-keeps-proving-prophets-of-eco-apocalypse-wrong/) By Ivo Vegter \\\| \\\| --- \\\| --- \\\| \\\| ![Jeff-Rudin-new-photo.jpg](//ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/OeRUNeqLPfID_4Cyp4qGvhdNNtdvVd7Id87KeueEWgZTF2I9bEHWyStGwNWyi8pdFIK8BqIS0zV-qvPrEip_rPZK4XFOtUkKJS-6BEIfPpuOpgcxNgcDMy_XMXNFfArdX-UzU1E0nXSvkJ-6Ub0=s0-d-e1-ft#http://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/80x70q70Jeff-Rudin-new-photo.jpg) \\\| [Restoring Eskom: What’s making it ill?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-09-19-restoring-eskom-whats-making-it-ill/) By Jeff Rudin \\\| \\| \\| --- \\| \| \| --- \| |