--- title: "While you were sleeping: 24th February 2017" description: "Nerve agent found on Kim Jong-Nam's body, earthquake strikes Lake Tanganyika, and La La Land set to win big at Oscars." 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/2017-02-24-while-you-were-sleeping-24th-february-2017/" published: "2017-02-24T06:06:53" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 733 --- # While you were sleeping: 24th February 2017 > Nerve agent found on Kim Jong-Nam's body, earthquake strikes Lake Tanganyika, and La La Land set to win big at Oscars. By John Stupart · Published 24 February 2017, 08:06 SAST ## Content **TGIF, 24th February 2017** *“What is to give light must endure burning.”* **Molly Guptill Manning** *A note on yesterday's reference to the "infamous" Iwo Jima flag-raising anniversary. The term "infamous" was made in relation to the controversy surrounding the staged and authentic flag-raising, and not the battle itself. This was regrettably not made clear.* *Thank you regardless to the many disgruntled armchair generals writing in to provide your theses on warfare and history. Your disgruntlement is appreciated, but misplaced.* ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/02/5F8/C51/csimport/849x493q70Marianne-Stokvel1.044240.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [SARS Wars: Moyane under pressure as suspended No 2 lands a new controversy](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-u/) By MARIANNE THAMM In the week in which Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that the South African Revenue Service had collected R30.4-billion less than projected, Commissioner Tom Moyane’s once-trusted No 2, Jonas Makwakwa, was revealed to have been disciplined for allegedly interfering, while on suspension, with a tax probe into Durban’s “teflon” billionaire couple Shawn and S’bu Mpisane. And remember those “suspicious deposits” totalling around R1.3-million, some of which Makwakwa was filmed depositing into his bank account? Daily Maverick has reliably learned Makwakwa is claiming that the money is from a “stokvel” and taxi business. [Nerve agent detected on Kim Jong-Nam's body](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-o/) The nerve agent VX has been detected on the body of Kim Jong-Nam, further confirming an assassination motive. With the use of the nerve agent, used only in weapons of mass destruction and considerably deadlier than Sarin, it appears that North Korea's hired killers were taking no chances on Dear Leader's defecting half brother. [Earthquake hits northern Zambia](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-b/) A 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit Lake Tanganyika and surrounding areas late on Thursday. Situated around the Great Rift Valley, the area was also hit with a 6.8 earthquake in 2005. This time, however no word on significant damage has been announced. [Trump's team Mexico walk back immigration comments](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-n/) US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have retreated from the strong Trump rhetoric of dumping illegal immigrants into Mexico. Kelly, speaking from Mexico City, said that there will be no mass deportations. Mexico, meanwhile, expressed its concern and frustration over its northern neighbour, reminding the envoys that border security is a two-way issue. [La La Land set to win big at Oscars](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-p/) Early punditry revealed overnight has La La Land set to claim the lion's share of the Oscar's haul. Hosted this Sunday, the award show should see the Emma Stone/Ryan Gosling movie the clear favourite in ten categories. This was according to Gold Derby, whose entire purpose for existing appeared to be to predict award shows. Nice work if you can get it... — IN NUMBERS 40 The number of 24-hour gyms owned by Shaquille O’Neal. FACTS OF THE DAY The**Nazi Party** was formed today in 1920. The originator of**the Big Bang Theory** was a Catholic priest. FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Marianne-Stokvel.jpg) [SARS Wars: Moyane under pressure as suspended No 2 lands a new controversy](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-e/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Grootes-sit-down.jpg) [Budget 2017: The politics of ‘Bums on seats’](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-g/) BY STEPHEN GROOTES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Merten-Molefe-and-the-Parly-rogue-gallery.jpg) [Joining Parliament’s Rogues’ Gallery: Brian Molefe, MP](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-yd/) BY MARIANNE MERTEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Turok-South-Africas-Lopsided-Economy.jpg) [Op-Ed: South Africa’s lopsided economy](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-yk/) BY BEN TUROK ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70mcebisi-jonas-interview.jpg) [WATCH: Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas in conversation with Ranjeni Munusamy](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-jl/) BY DAILY MAVERICK ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Merten-Declarations.jpg) [MPs’ ‘interests’: Nothing much to disclose, sort of](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-jy/) BY MARIANNE MERTEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70becs-budgettoptax.jpg) [Budget 2017: How new top tax nips the rich](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-jt/) BY REBECCA DAVIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70street-talk-mixed-dating.jpg) [Street Talk: Dating across the colour line (VIDEO)](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-jd/) BY STREET TALK ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Brooks-New-Ringmaster.jpg) [US: The new Ringmaster for Trump’s Circus?](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-jk/) BY J BROOKS SPECTOR ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70sithole-letter.jpg) [Letter to the Editor: A Matter of Mines](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-tl/) BY DAILY MAVERICK OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q707fc6b61188b1c5c5e41f8b57f7356f0c.jpg) [The Other News Round-Up: The Kill-You-Twice Obituaries Edition](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-ty/) A column by MARELISE VAN DER MERWE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70babatunde-fagbayibo.jpg) [The Grace of originality](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-tt/) A column by BABATUNDE FAGBAYIBO ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Oscar-van-Heerden.jpg) [Revisionists, beware: It’s a dangerous thing to try to alter history](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-td/) A column by OSCAR VAN HEERDEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Yonela-Diko-new-photo.jpg) [Why is it so easy to discredit women like Nomvula Mokonyane?](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-tk/) A column by YONELA DIKO ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Andrew-Gasnolar.jpg) [Gordhan’s Tall Order](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hthtjkl-l-il/) A column by ANDREW IHSAAN GASNOLAR — **Weather** BFN: min: 14° max: 23°, rainy CPT: min: 18° max: 25°, cloudy DBN: min: 21° max: 27°, cloudy EL: min: 20° max: 34°, sunny JHB: min: 14° max: 20°, rainy KIM: min: 17° max: 28°, rainy NLP: min: 17° max: 24°, rainy PMB: min: 12° max: 29°, rainy PE: min: 20° max: 33°, sunny PTA: min: 15° max: 24°, rainy **Financial Data** Oil=$56.53 Gold=$1,249.53 Platinum=$1,009.11 R/$=12.87 R/€=13.60 R/£=16.14 $/€=1.05 JSE All Share=52,183.10 DJIA=20,806.76 FTSE 100=7,271.37