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Snakes are part of politics, in a figurative sense. Last week they were literally a problem, and raised in parliament by several MPs.
It seems there is an infestation of snakes in Cape Town’s parliamentary villages of Acacia Park, near Goodwood, and Pelican Park, on the Cape Flats, where maintenance has been neglected and gardens are overgrown.
One MP even refused to stay in his village, preferring to fly in and out for parliamentary sessions. Parliament is due to meet the department of public works this week about snakes on a plain.
2. Much love lost
To understand what the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) risks by alienating China with its criticism of the disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, look at the money the tour could lose. China provides almost a third of the WTA Tour’s income, according to Sports Illustrated, and about 100-million TV spectators. Nine of the tour’s 32 events are in China and two years ago it staged the blue riband World Tour Finals in Shenzhen, with China providing $14m in prize money (as opposed to the Association of Tennis Professionals men’s equivalent of $9m). It all makes for a very expensive principle.
3. Reds rule — just
Coalitions have been all the rage this year. Especially in Europe, where they have long been fashionable. In Austria, one of the most bourgeois of countries, even the communists got a foothold (a bit like the EFF in Jozi).
In Austria’s recent municipal elections, the second-biggest city, Graz, was captured by the communists, with just 29% of the vote. Since its "victory" in September, the city has, inevitably, been nicknamed Leningraz. Communism no longer haunts Europe, but it’s always good for a laugh.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
DINNER PARTY INTEL: Reds rule — just
1. Snakes alive!
Snakes are part of politics, in a figurative sense. Last week they were literally a problem, and raised in parliament by several MPs.
It seems there is an infestation of snakes in Cape Town’s parliamentary villages of Acacia Park, near Goodwood, and Pelican Park, on the Cape Flats, where maintenance has been neglected and gardens are overgrown.
One MP even refused to stay in his village, preferring to fly in and out for parliamentary sessions. Parliament is due to meet the department of public works this week about snakes on a plain.
2. Much love lost
To understand what the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) risks by alienating China with its criticism of the disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, look at the money the tour could lose. China provides almost a third of the WTA Tour’s income, according to Sports Illustrated, and about 100-million TV spectators. Nine of the tour’s 32 events are in China and two years ago it staged the blue riband World Tour Finals in Shenzhen, with China providing $14m in prize money (as opposed to the Association of Tennis Professionals men’s equivalent of $9m). It all makes for a very expensive principle.
3. Reds rule — just
Coalitions have been all the rage this year. Especially in Europe, where they have long been fashionable. In Austria, one of the most bourgeois of countries, even the communists got a foothold (a bit like the EFF in Jozi).
In Austria’s recent municipal elections, the second-biggest city, Graz, was captured by the communists, with just 29% of the vote. Since its "victory" in September, the city has, inevitably, been nicknamed Leningraz. Communism no longer haunts Europe, but it’s always good for a laugh.
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Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.