--- title: "While you were sleeping: 11 May 2017" description: "Zuma files late-minute delay on Gordhan papers, Comey-firing fallout continues, and AIDS sufferers to live to an average age of 78." 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/2017-05-11-while-you-were-sleeping-11-may-2017/" published: "2017-05-11T06:00:29" updated: "2017-05-11T06:06:56" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 754 --- # While you were sleeping: 11 May 2017 > Zuma files late-minute delay on Gordhan papers, Comey-firing fallout continues, and AIDS sufferers to live to an average age of 78. By John Stupart · Published 11 May 2017, 08:00 SAST · Updated 11 May 2017, 08:06 SAST ## Content **Thursday, 11 May 2017** *“The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.”* **Hannah Arendt** ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/81/B92/88C/csimport/849x493q70Thamm-SASSABRIEF1.050556.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [Sassa: Switchover will now cost R6bn and take five years, says Bathabile Dlamini](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-x/) By MARIANNE THAMM Tensions between Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini and Sassa officials bubbled beneath the surface at Wednesday’s presentation by the agency of its strategic plan and budget vote to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development. While Sassa CEO, Thokozani Magwaza, said it would take 12 months to phase in the in-house payment of social grants, Dlamini claimed it would take at least five years and cost around R6-billion which taxpayers should view as an investment. An unrepentant Dlamini also suggested that the Constitutional Court had been “influenced” by media reports in making its judgment criticising her conduct and that of Sassa officials in the SassaGate saga. [Zuma conducts reshuffle lawfare](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-m/) President Jacob Zuma has filed for leave to appeal against the High Court ruling that he provide records of his reasons for dismissing Pravin Gordhan. The late-Wednesday move is an obvious delaying tactic, with the Democratic Alliance calling the move just that. For ordinary South Africans, the move is simply another costly legal delay which appears to be the status quo. [New conference to change Somalia's future, maybe](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-c/) A one-day conference in London kicks off today with the aim of kickstarting Somalia into hyper-development. Over 40 heads of state or representatives will attend, including major global funding organisations, all geared toward reaching new agreements with Somalia that could see the country leapfrog in terms of its growth path. [Rent-a-pilgrim rates soar ahead of Fatima weekend](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-q/) Prices for hiring a "proxy pilgrim" ahead of Pope Francis' 13 May visit to the Portuguese town of Fatima and the sainthood of two children have soared. Although the dopple-pilgrims insist it's not about the money, it really kind of is. Rates have reached a princely 2,500 euros to hire a basic pilgrimage. Lighting of candles, saying of rosaries and knee-shuffling have all become rather expensive add-ons. The super-sized pilgrimage, it seems, is only for the elite. [Aids sufferers have 'near normal' lifespan](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-a/) Researchers unveiled today a study that showed those infected with HIV-Aids in the United States or Europe can expect to live a near-normal length of time. A 20-year-old who began treatment any time since 2008 can expect to live to an average age of 78 years. Researchers attribute the longer life spans to improved treatment methods and medication. — IN NUMBERS 1.5 The amount in millions of euros for which two brothers sold a counterfeit Goya painting. They later found out they had been paid in forged notes. FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 1997 **Deep Blue**, a supercomputer programmed to play chess, defeats Garry Kasparov. The machines have been learning ever since. **Ireland's population**has still not recovered from the Great Famine FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Thamm-SASSABRIEF.jpg) [Sassa: Switchover will now cost R6bn and take five years, says Bathabile Dlamini](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-e/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Heidi-Metadata.jpg) [Op-Ed: Big Brother is watching your phone call records](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-g/) BY HEIDI SWART ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Groundup-Finetown-MAIN-PHOTO.jpg) [GroundUp: Protests spread across southern Johannesburg](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-yd/) BY GROUNDUP ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Grootes-DAs-Legal-Overreach.jpg) [Analysis: The politics of judicial and executive overreach](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-yk/) BY STEPHEN GROOTES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Merten-SABC-committee.jpg) [The cost of Hlaudi: SABC’s interim board starts to undo his damage](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-jl/) BY MARIANNE MERTEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70davis-masculinities.jpg) [Analysis: How South Africa’s violent notion of masculinity harms us all](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-jy/) BY REBECCA DAVIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70JZ-Mogoeng2.jpg) [Breaking: Desperate times, desperate measures – lobby groups approach ConCourt to remove Zuma](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-jt/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Greg-Employment-equity-report.jpg) [Employment equity: Time to swap the carrot with the stick](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-jd/) BY GREG NICOLSON ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70ant-worldCup.jpg) [South Africa to face New Zealand and Italy in pool stage of Rugby World Cup 2019](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-jk/) BY ANTOINETTE MULLER OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70paul-hoffman.jpg) [Caligula’s Horse: A cautionary tale](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-tl/) A column by PAUL HOFFMAN ![Image](https://img.createsend1.com/feedimageproxy/image/B42A5CACACABE7/9CE48422E8D7?imageUrl=) [South Africa needs a Marshall Plan or we will soon have Martial Law](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-ty/) A column by MARIUS OOSTHUIZEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70richard-raber.jpg) [Rural patronage, dehumanisation and the Traditional Khoi-San Leadership Bill](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-tt/) A column by RICHARD RABER ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70e41a4dfa4a643c00376ac2cc63396bfb.jpg) [Coligny bail and Cabinet reshuffle judgments show need for reasoned criticism](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kyzlry-l-td/) A column by PIERRE DE VOS — **Weather** BFN: min: 13° max: 24°, cloudy CPT: min: 13° max: 18°, sunny DBN: min: 21° max: 28°, sunny EL: min: 19° max: 26°, rainy JHB: min: 9° max: 24°, cloudy KIM: min: 15° max: 26°, cloudy NLP: min: 7° max: 27°, sunny PMB: min: 13° max: 28°, rainy PE: min: 16° max: 21°, rainy PTA: min: 9° max: 24°, cloudy **Financial Data** Oil=$50.13 Gold=$1,218.83 Platinum=$910.85 R/$=13.48 R/€=14.64 R/£=17.45 $/€=0.92 JSE All Share=54,254.35 DJIA=20,931.56 FTSE 100=7,385.24