Alcohol, obscure artworks and other tat appear to be favoured as gifts given by foreign embassies to South Africa's minister of international relations.

Alas, we spoke too soon. The minister of international relations, Ronald Lamola, got way better party packs than the minister of agriculture, John Steenhuisen.

So reveals a deeper dive into the recently released National Assembly Register of Members' Interests, a gift which keeps on giving and an annual ritual not to be underestimated.

Whether or not all has been disclosed, MPs need to feel the heat of accountability breathing down their necks (some might not).

We thought the Steenhuisen had struck it lucky with his 48 bottles of fine wine, biltong and ostrich plumes. But wait till you glide your eyes over Ronald Ozzy (how cool) Lamola's imaginary barroom shelves.

Liquid diplomacy

In the interests of friendship and diplomacy, the embassy of Zimbabwe gifted Lamola's office a bottle of Glenfiddich single malt, which was later topped up by another identical bottle from the embassy of Nepal and yet another from Assupol (a funeral policy company which finds itself the butt of a self-evident joke).

Gifted by the embassy of China was a bottle of Ningxia Changyu...