South African Bridge

Copyright©1993 Evans and Savidge

By Warwick Evans

Clarence:

Heard about the walkout at the multi-party summit in Johannesburg?

 

Marmaduke:

No, what happened?

 

Clarence:

F.W. de Klerk thought he'd be clever and invited Nelson Mandela, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Eugene Terre-blanche over to his place for a friendly game of bridge.

 

Marmaduke:

And?

 

Clarence:

Well, all went smoothly at first. Mandela and Buthelezi won the first game and then bid one heart. But then de Klerk opened his big fat mouth. He said Mandela needed a rubber, reminded him he was vulnerable, said he didn't have a heart and told Buthelezi that he would be the dummy unless he did something about it.

 

Marmaduke:

And that's when Mandela and Buthelezi walked out?

 

Clarence:

No. The actual walkout occurred later in the bidding, when Terre-blanche signalled to de Klerk that he ought to shut up, and then loudly complained about being left with two spades and nowhere to go.