--- title: "While you were sleeping: 28 March 2017" description: "Cyclone Debbie cuts swathe across NE Australia, DRC blame rebels for mass grave, and Proteas face Herculean task in New Zealand." 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/2017-03-28-while-you-were-sleeping-28-march-2017/" published: "2017-03-28T06:10:55" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 766 --- # While you were sleeping: 28 March 2017 > Cyclone Debbie cuts swathe across NE Australia, DRC blame rebels for mass grave, and Proteas face Herculean task in New Zealand. By John Stupart · Published 28 March 2017, 08:10 SAST ## Content **Tuesday, 28 March 2017** *“The real problem of humanity is the following: we have paleolithic emotions; medieval institutions; and god-like technology."* **Edward Wilson** ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/6B/4FF/3A0/csimport/849x493q70Zuma-Pravin1.053508.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [Finance Ministry ‘Recall’: Gordhan trumped by Guptas' Number One asset](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-u/) By RANJENI MUNUSAMY The story of this country is impossible to script. President Jacob Zuma keeps redefining his catastrophic legacy by dragging this nation from one disaster to another. Why would the President sabotage the gains made to steady the economy and the strengthening of the rand by suddenly instructing Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas to cancel an international investor roadshow? It is because Zuma is so beholden to his benefactors that he is willing to pummel the economy and impair the country’s interests by again dabbling with the finance ministry. But this is a complicated gamble for everyone, including Zuma. By RANJENI MUNUSAMY. [Cyclone Debbie ravages Australian coast](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-o/) Category four winds relating to Cyclone Debbie have cut a swathe of destruction along north-eastern Australia. After the winds uprooted trees and cut power to 30,000 homes, officials are advising tourists and locals alike to remain inside during the storm. Winds of 270/kph have been recorded, but no fatalities have been reported as yet. [DRC officials blame rebels for 39 dead](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-b/) The mass grave revealing 39 bodies on Friday was the work of rebels, or so say the Congolese national police. Thirty-nine police officers were killed in an ambush in Kasai, DRC, by supporters of the late militia leader KamwinaNsapu. Kasai has been characterised as one of the more violent regions in the DRC recently. [Scotland expected to bring independence vote in today](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-n/) A last-minute pre-Brexit meeting between Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon appeared fruitless, as Scottish politicians announced their intention to bring a vote on an independence referendum today. Scotland is seeking to remain a part of the EU's single market and avoid the bundling of itself with whatever Brexit brings. [Proteas face uphill struggle](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-p/) A half century by Colin de Grandhomme preceded by a century by Kane Williamson has combined to a 175-run lead by New Zealand. For South Africa, an uphill struggle in its second innings now looms. Whether the Proteas opt for a safe defensive innings or go all out for a win remains to be seen. — IN NUMBERS 60 How many bottles of liquor Winston Churchill took with him during his time in the Boer War. FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 1871 the **Paris Commune** is officially formed. **Princess Diana**once invited Cindy Crawford to Buckinham Palace because her son Prince William had a crush on her. FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Zuma-Pravin.jpg) [Finance Ministry ‘Recall’: Gordhan trumped by Guptas' Number One asset](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-e/) BY RANJENI MUNUSAMY ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Poplak-Nkosazana-in-Rustenburg\(1\).jpg) [TRAINSPOTTER: The Air Apparent—at an Israeli Apartheid Week lecture, Dlamini-Zuma signals she’s ready to rise](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-g/) BY RICHARD POPLAK ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Guptas-in-Parly-Merten\(1\).jpg) [House of Cards: As Pravin Gordhan flies back to South Africa, the battle moves to North Gauteng High Court](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-yd/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70sachs-tambolect1.jpg) [Oliver Tambo Centenary Series, Part 1: The Dream of a Quiet Revolutionary](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-yk/) BY ALBIE SACHS ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Gwede-Mantashe\(1\).jpg) [ANC NEC: We didn’t know about Gordhan](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-jl/) BY GREG NICOLSON ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70street-talk-28-March.jpg) [Street Talk: Disability (Video)](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-jy/) BY STREET TALK ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70groundup-silicosis.jpg) [GroundUp: Silicosis – unpacking the gold mines’ strategy](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-jt/) BY GROUNDUP ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Becs-vanbreda_day1.jpg) [Henri van Breda’s axe murder case: Media coverage debated while trial postponed](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-jd/) BY REBECCA DAVIS ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Simon-Allison-Tanzania-rapper.jpg) [Tanzania: President Magufuli loses rap battle with critic](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-jk/) BY SIMON ALLISON ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70BLSA-letter\(1\).jpg) [Anger mounts against Zuma’s ‘reckless’ recall of Gordhan, Jonas](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-tl/) BY JILLIAN GREEN ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70stones-uys.jpeg) [Theatre Review: ‘The Echo of a Noise’ is quietly poignant](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-ty/) BY LESLEY STONES ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Budget-2017-in-numbers\(1\).jpg) [News Alert: Presidency halts Gordhan, Jonas international roadshow, both instructed to return to SA urgently](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-tt/) BY RANJENI MUNUSAMY ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70ahmed-kathrada-on-mandelas-death\(2\).jpg) [Ahmed Kathrada in a serious condition](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-td/) BY DAILY MAVERICK ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70woodstock-hospital.jpg) [Application to rezone Woodstock Hospital casts Cape Town’s housing crisis back into the spotlight](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-tk/) BY ANTOINETTE MULLER OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70jihn-vlismas.jpg) [We need gags with happy endings – not pulled tight over our mouths](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-il/) A column by JOHN VLISMAS ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Nomatter-Ndebele.jpg) [Our democracy: Fleeing in a marked police vehicle](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-iy/) A column by NOMATTER NDEBELE ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70still-a-boy%20copy.jpg) [Earth Hour: Is it a fad that desperately needs reinvention?](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-it/) A column by ANTOINETTE MULLER ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Ghaleb-Cachalia.jpg) [Let’s give Helen Zille the benefit of the doubt](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hklljyd-l-id/) A column by GHALEB CACHALIA — **Weather** BFN: min: 12° max: 29°, sunny CPT: min: 15° max: 24°, sunny DBN: min: 19° max: 28°, AM rain EL: min: 19° max: 26°, cloudy JHB: min: 10° max: 30°, sunny KIM: min: 15° max: 30°, cloudy NLP: min: 14° max: 32°, sunny PMB: min: 11° max: 28°, cloudy PE: min: 197° max: 24°, cloudy PTA: min: 11° max: 30°, sunny **Financial Data** Oil=$50.70 Gold=$1,255.76 Platinum=$968.50 R/$=12.74 R/€=13.85 R/£=16.02 $/€=1.08 JSE All Share=51,724.92 DJIA=20,523.97 FTSE 100=7,293.50