--- title: "While you were sleeping: 21 December 2017" description: "Ramaphosa talks land, Israel and unity, DM reflects on the conference, and North Korean soldier defects." 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/2017-12-21-while-you-were-sleeping-21-december-2017/" published: "2017-12-21T05:31:55" updated: "2017-12-21T05:57:41" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 681 --- # While you were sleeping: 21 December 2017 > Ramaphosa talks land, Israel and unity, DM reflects on the conference, and North Korean soldier defects. By John Stupart · Published 21 December 2017, 07:31 SAST · Updated 21 December 2017, 07:57 SAST ## Content **Thursday, 21 December 2017** *“Don't be so humble, you're not that great.”* **Golda Meir** ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/2A/A2F/2FE/csimport/849x493q70nec.050711.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [#ANCdecides2017: New NEC split down the middle](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-p/) By GREG NICOLSON Election results for the ANC’s additional 80 members of the national executive committee (NEC) were finally released in the early hours of Thursday morning. With the allegiances of the top six officials split, the NEC will be crucial moving forward. But the results point to a stalemate, with the two different factions taking a similar number of positions. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [Cyril Ramapoised for land expropriation](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-x/) Ramaphosa's first speech as the ANC president and the conference's last was full of messages of unity and togetherness. Dripping with a collective spirit, you would be forgiven for thinking that the NEC and top six was not wholly riven with as many rogues as they were not. But a crucial point in his speech focused heavily on land expropriation without compensation. Ramaphosa did stress that this would be done in a way so as not to hurt the economy, however. One presumes this did not include the micro-economic well being of whomever's land it currently is. [Key moments of the conference](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-m/) The conference appeared to be characterised much the same as soldiers describe war: long periods of utter boredom punctuated by moments of complete adrenalin-pumping excitement. Before Daily Maverick's correspondents passed out - just minutes ago it should be said - they compiled a key list of takeaway points you should read. If you hadn't followed the conference carefully, these are your crib notes for 2018. [Germany arrests ram-attack plotter](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-c/) German authorities have announced the arrest on Wednesday of a man accused of planning a ramming-style attack. The German national had scouted out a location in Karlsruhe after pledging allegiance to Islamic State. The suspect had travelled to Iraq twice to receive training in preparation for the attack. [Second DMZ defection to South Korea](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-q/) Another North Korean soldier has defected to the south overnight. The "low-ranking" individual crossed at a foggy point in the Demilitarised Zone. Initially, North Korean soldiers scrambled to try to find him, presumably to attempt to shoot the man before he crossed. A warning burst from a South Korean machine gun, however, soon discouraged any thoughts of pursuit. IN NUMBERS 1,200 The number of Cuban cigars ordered by JFK the day before the US placed a trade embargo on Cuba. FACTS OF THE DAY **Today in 1965****Louis Washkansky**, the first heart transplant patient to survive, dies 18 days after his surgery. **Dogs**learn how to control the strength of their bites as puppies. This is because biting too hard interrupts playtime. FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70becs-ramaphosaSpeech-02.jpg) [#ANCdecides2017: A new day dawns as Ramaphosa gives first address as ANC President](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-v/) BY REBECCA DAVIS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Merten-land-policy.jpg) [#ANCdecides2017: Land expropriation without compensation makes grand entrance](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-s/) BY MARIANNE MERTEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70becGreg-memorableMoments.jpg) [#ANCdecides2017: Five days, nine memorable moments](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-w/) BY REBECCA DAVIS & GREG NICOLSON ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Cyril-speech.jpg) [Op-Ed: ‘We must act fearlessly against alleged corruption and abuse of office within our ranks’](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-yh/) BY CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Cyril-Ramaphosa-05_LD-logo\(2\).jpg) [#ANCdecides2017: Reporter’s notebook – End of Days](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-yu/) BY STEPHEN GROOTES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70nkateko-reflections-medialogo\(1\).jpg) [#ANCdecides2017 Reflections: Fear and loathing in the Nasrec media pen](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-jr/) BY NKATEKO MABASA ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70ThammSASSAJoint\(1\).jpg) [SassaGate: Dlamini costs affidavit inadvertently sets out chaos under her leadership](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-jj/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Marelise-explainer-Patricia-De-Lille001.jpg) [Explainer: The DA vs De Lille, and her fight-back plans to remain mayor of Cape Town](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-ji/) BY MARELISE VAN DER MERWE ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Brooks-trumpyear\(1\).jpg) [US: Donald Trump’s Yuge, Bigly first year as President. It was gonna be amazing, folks. It wasn’t.](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-jh/) BY J BROOKS SPECTOR OPINIONISTAS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70still-a-boy%20copy.jpg) [#ANCDecides2017: The conference is like a Test match](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-ju/) A column by ANTOINETTE MULLER ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/190x170q70showerspic\(2\).jpg) [Zimbabwe’s Quest for Legitimacy](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-uuktdud-l-tr/) A column by SHOWERS MAWOWA — **Weather** BFN: min: 17° max 30°, cloudy CPT: min: 16° max: 27°, sunny DBN: min: 12° max: 27°, cloudy EL: min: 20° max: 28°, cloudy JHB: min: 16° max: 26°, rainy KIM: min: 18° max: 31°, rainy MHK: min: 18° max: 30°, cloudy PMB: min: 19° max: 31°, cloudy PE: min: 18° max: 30°, cloudy PTA: min: 19° max: 29°, cloudy **Financial Data** Oil=$64.54 Gold=$1,265.26 Platinum=$919.33 R/$=12.73 R/€=15.13 R/£=17.05 BTC/$=16,749 JSE All Share=58,032.09 DJIA=24,740.74 FTSE 100=7,525.22