--- title: "While you were sleeping: 4 August 2017" description: "The Gathering peers into South Africa's political entrails, Grand Jury appointed for Trump-Russia connection, and Rwanda heads to the polls." 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/2017-08-04-while-you-were-sleeping-4-august-2017/" published: "2017-08-04T06:05:09" updated: "2017-08-04T06:05:10" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 730 --- # While you were sleeping: 4 August 2017 > The Gathering peers into South Africa's political entrails, Grand Jury appointed for Trump-Russia connection, and Rwanda heads to the polls. By John Stupart · Published 4 August 2017, 08:05 SAST · Updated 4 August 2017, 08:05 SAST ## Content **TGIF, 4 August 2017** *"We are experiencing a reality based on a thin veneer of lies and illusions. A world where greed is our God and wisdom is sin, where division is key and unity is fantasy, where the ego-driven cleverness of the mind is praised, rather than the intelligence of the heart.”* **Bill Hicks** ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/BF/38D/170/csimport/849x493q70Greg-conscience-vote.050658.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [The Gathering: Media Edition – ‘ANC MPs will do what is best for our country’ in no confidence vote – Derek Hanekom](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-p/) By GREG NICOLSON ANC MPs have political consciousness and most will do what’s best for the party and country, Daily Maverick’s The Gathering: Media Edition heard on Thursday. But don’t get ahead of yourself. That doesn’t mean enough ANC MPs will vote to boot Zuma out of power on Tuesday. [The Gathering ends with a bang](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-x/) Yesterday's #NandosDMTheGathering started with a bang - the ignomonious departure of BLF's "broke" leadership in a [loaned luxury German vehicle](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-m/) , but proceeded on to some heavy and far more pertinent topics. The broader problem of fake news, of which BLF form a cog within, how [state capture](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-c/) should be uncaptured, and finally, [Pravin Gordhan's](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-q/)words of wisdom on what to do about it all. There is a lot to see, but all of it should be read with your morning coffee. [Rwanda set to go to polls](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-a/) Rwanda is expected to vote President Paul Kagame in for a controversial third term today. With 98% supporting the term amendment in a constitutional referendum earlier, the odds are certainly in his favour. Opposition leaders have complained of intimidation, suppression of the media, and a general air of unfairness. In Rwanda, however, this appeared to do nothing to dampen Kagame's rise. [Grand Jury for Trump-Russia probe](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-f/) Special counsel Robert Mueller has convened a Grand Jury to investigate links between the Trumps and Russia during the 2016 election. The move allows Mueller the ability to subpoena documents and gain a solid level of information over the links - or lack thereof - between House Trump and House Putin. Whether President Trump will pre-empt such truth-finding by firing Mueller, however, is a distinct possibility. [Australia plane plot directed by IS](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-z/) Australian authorities have revealed what they believe to have been a plot by Islamic State that directed the attempted bombing of an outbound flight. Khaled Khayat and Mahmoud Khayat are believed to have planned to build a second toxic gas bomb aimed at bringing down an Etihad Airways flight from Sydney, all of which had been directed by IS. With a third suspect about to be charged in addition, the plot is definitely thickening. — IN NUMBERS 389 The dive speed of a Peregrine Falcon, as measured by the National Geographic. FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 2007 **Nasa** launches its Phoenix spacecraft. **Bumblebees** can fly higher than Mount Everest. ![Image](https://i6.createsend1.com/ei/d/BF/38D/170/csimport/GleakswN24.190025.jpg) FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Greg-conscience-vote.jpg) [The Gathering: Media Edition – ‘ANC MPs will do what is best for our country’ in no confidence vote – Derek Hanekom](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-w/) BY GREG NICOLSON ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70pauli-gatheringLeaks.jpg) [The Gathering – Media Edition: Guptas wanted ‘the whole cake’ – #GuptaLeaks investigative team](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-yh/) BY PAULI VAN WYK ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Bloom-cannabis-cost.jpg) [The Cannabis Chronicles: What the State has just cost us](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-yu/) BY KEVIN BLOOM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Fab-McGowanRelease.jpg) [SA Hostage in Mali: Stephen McGowan home after six years in captivity](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-jr/) BY PETER FABRICIUS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Kristen-habineza-rwanda-vote.jpg) [Rwanda: ‘Green’ candidate claims massive support in run-up to poll, but the facts don’t back it up](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-jj/) BY KRISTEN VAN SCHIE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70IMG_7606.jpg) [As it happened: The Gathering - Media Edition](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-ji/) BY DAILY MAVERICK ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Brooks-TrumpKorea.jpg) [Trump and Korea: Then, now and in the future – strategic choices](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-jh/) BY J BROOKS SPECTOR ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Ihsaan-KlipspruitMainpic.jpg) [Schooling disrupted, bus torched as crisis over Klipspruit principal escalates](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-ju/) BY IHSAAN HAFFEJEE OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Zweli-Mkhize.jpg) [You strike the woman, you (still) strike the rock](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-tr/) A column by ZWELI MKHIZE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q707fc6b61188b1c5c5e41f8b57f7356f0c.jpg) [The Other News Round-Up: Blatant Lies First](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-tj/) A column by MARELISE VAN DER MERWE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Joel-Modiri.jpg) [Captured states, captured imaginations](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kktrldd-l-ti/) A column by JOEL MODIRI — **Weather** BFN: min: 8° max 23°, cloudy CPT: min: 10° max: 17°, cloudy DBN: min: 13° max: 22°, sunny EL: min: 14° max: 21°, rainy JHB: min: 7° max: 18°, sunny KIM: min: 8° max: 24°, sunny NLP: min: 9° max: 23°, cloudy MHK: min: 9° max: 23°, cloudy PMB: min: 6° max: 26°, cloudy PE: min: 6° max: 18°, rainy PTA: min: 9° max: 21°, sunny **Financial Data** Oil=$52.19 Gold=$1,268.43 Platinum=$962.37 R/$=13.41 R/€=15.91 R/£=17.60 $/€=0.88 JSE All Share=55,685.01 DJIA=22,015.51 FTSE 100=7,474.77