--- title: "While you were sleeping: 6 September 2017" description: "Lesotho hangs on political cliff edge, Kunene survives shooting, and aspirin's link with cancer elaborated." 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/2017-09-06-while-you-were-sleeping-6-september-2017/" published: "2017-09-06T05:42:28" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 782 --- # While you were sleeping: 6 September 2017 > Lesotho hangs on political cliff edge, Kunene survives shooting, and aspirin's link with cancer elaborated. By John Stupart · Published 6 September 2017, 07:42 SAST ## Content **Wednesday, 6 September 2017** *“If I had a large amount of money I should certainly found a hospital for those whose grip upon the world is so tenuous that they can be severely offended by words and phrases and yet remain all unoffended by the injustice, violence and oppression that howls daily about our ears.”* **Stephen Fry** ![Image](https://i1.createsend1.com/ei/d/13/920/F34/csimport/849x493q70merten-Mthembu-interview1.043253.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [Jackson Mthembu Interview: ‘I am part of the CR17 campaign – we need to change the trajectory’](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-n/) ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu is wary of further twists and turns to the smear campaigns that erupted spectacularly over Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa at the weekend. But with nominations for the ANC presidential contest now officially open, he didn’t mince his words. “I am part of the CR17 (Ramaphosa) campaign… Those who are sniffing, they do know that. There’s nothing to hide”. By MARIANNE MERTEN. [Lesotho sits on knife edge](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-p/) With three Lesotho Defence Force officers shot dead on Tuesday, the country is in something of a state of uncertainty. LDF commander, Lt-General Khoantile Motsomotso, Special Forces commander Lt-Colonel Tefo Hashatsi and Lt-Colonel Bulane Sechele were killed in what may have been an altercation between the latter two and Motsomotso. Hashatsi and Sechele had been implicated in the assassination of Brigadier Maaparankoe Mahao. The real question hovering here may be just why Lesotho still has a defence force in the first place. [Obama speaks out against Trump repeal](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-x/) Former President Barack Obama has criticised his orange successor for opting to end an amnesty for hundreds of thousands of illegal child immigrants. Posting on Facebook, Obama stated that for Donald Trump "to target these young people is wrong -- because they have done nothing wrong. It is self-defeating -- because they want to start new businesses, staff our labs, serve in our military, and otherwise contribute to the country we love. And it is cruel". The DACA or "Dreamer" scheme was ended today, leaving 800,000 children and former children at risk of deportation from the only country they've ever known as home. [Kunene survives drive-by shooting](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-m/) Socialite and prominent figure Kenny Kunene has survived a shooting in Waverley, Johannesburg. Kunene and a female passenger were shot at by unknown assailants late on Tuesday night. It is believed that the shooting may have been aimed at Sunday Independent editor Steve Motale, who had intended to travel in the vehicle with Kunene. [Win-Lose with aspirin and cancer - study](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-c/) A new study has shown that while regular aspirin use can reduce the risk of colon cancer, it could make it harder to treat if it emerges. A new study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface used lab studies and mathematical modelling to establish the new findings. The best route, researchers suggested, was to take regular micro doses of aspirin in your 50s and 60s, and then stop. — IN NUMBERS $71,145 The amount made by the makers of Cards Against Humanity for having a sale of nothing (literally). FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 1939 **South Africa declares war** on Nazi Germany. **Vin Diesel's real name** is Mark Sinclair. ![Image](https://i3.createsend1.com/ei/d/13/920/F34/csimport/GleakswN24.190025.jpg) FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Carien-sindiso-magaqa-death.jpg) [ANC KZN: Sindiso Magaqa’s death, another worrying statistic in a troubled province](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-v/) BY CARIEN DU PLESSIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Guptabot-figure1.jpeg) [TechCentral: We go inside the Guptabot fake news network](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-s/) BY ANDREW FRASER ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70fabricius-lesothoshooting.jpg) [Lesotho: Political tensions run high following army shootings](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-w/) BY PETER FABRICIUS & KRISTEN VAN SCHIE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70rebecca-earlyelection.jpg) [Parliament: DA motion to hold early elections falls flat](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-yh/) BY REBECCA DAVIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70nicolson-Mbeteconcourt.jpg) [Opposition parties have their day in ConCourt to pursue impeachment of Zuma](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-yu/) BY GREG NICOLSON ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70groundup-philipi.jpg) [GroundUp: Facts and myths about the judgment on the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-jr/) BY GROUNDUP ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70retiefTrumplandHarvey.jpg) [Letter from Trumpland: Will the Irma & Harvey tag team drown US climate denial?](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-jj/) BY GLEN RETIEF OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Mike-Muller.jpg) [I slept with Bell Pottinger and they still didn’t promote the NDP](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-ji/) A column by MIKE MULLER ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Oscar-van-Heerden.jpg) [If you pray for the rain you have to deal with the mud – meet Jacob Zuma, the teetotaller](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-jh/) A column by OSCAR VAN HEERDEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70anele.jpg) [Poverty is a scandal but has become a natural part of our reality](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-ju/) A column by ANELE NZIMANDE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70Kenneth-Diole.jpg) [ANC Leadership Race: No one is speaking to the youth](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-urjykuy-l-tr/) A column by KENNETH DIOLE — **Weather** BFN: min: 10° max 27°, cloudy CPT: min: 10° max: 15°, cloudy DBN: min: 15° max: 24°, sunny EL: min: 14° max: 22°, rainy JHB: min: 13° max: 26°, sunny KIM: min: 11° max: 30°, sunny NLP: min: 12° max: 33°, sunny MHK: min: 12° max: 29°, sunny PMB: min: 14° max: 29°, sunny PE: min: 12° max: 24°, sunny PTA: min: 11° max: 29°, sunny **Financial Data** Oil=$53.18 Gold=$1,341.90 Platinum=$1,007.53 R/$=12.92 R/€=15.41 R/£=16.85 $/€=0.83 JSE All Share=56,144.80 DJIA=21,746.28 FTSE 100=7,372.92