When federal president Alexander van der Bellen travels to Cape Town, it quickly becomes clear: in South Africa, rugby is often about politics. A meeting with the Prime Minister of the province of West-Kaap shows how deep sport is anchored in society and in the schedule.
In South Africa, rugby not only has a social, but also a political influence. This was impressive in December 2023, when the then Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was visiting – and suddenly nobody had time for diplomacy. Agreements from the minister failed, even a planned meeting with the National Security Advisor Burst.
Reason: the man was already on vacation. It was a rugby holiday. President Cyril Ramaphosa had promised his country an extra work -free day after the victory of the “Springboks” in 2023 and he clashed with the visit of Schallenberg.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
