Swish, glamour and glitz to raise money for kids in rags
The night’s second do also had a social bent, this time in aid of those too young to fend for themselves.
This was the annual Save the Children gala dinner, which was held at Sandton’s swish Maslow Hotel and roped in a roster of the land’s top talent led by Terry Pheto and Bobo “Bo Denin” Seritsane to help raise funds for the worthy cause.
I slipped in just a few minutes after proceedings had started, finding myself seated next to the night’s MC, Lesley Nkosi, and opposite the charity’s flamboyant CEO, Gugu Ndebele.
Elsewhere I spot a smattering of business folk and quite a few shlebs like pretty-in-pink actress Zikhona Sodlaka and TV presenter Janez Vermeiren, there with his wife Juliana.
Like many of these charitable do’s, there’s an auction element which always sounds like a good idea but often feels like pulling teeth to get people to cough up.
This one didn’t get off to a good start for auctioneer Barney Girnun, who raised less than half the suggested amount for the first couple of items. Thankfully the celebs in the room came through with Janez picking up a gorgeous Vanessa Singh ostrich-skin handbag for a thrilled Juliana. Lesley became the proud owner of a pair of handmade and signed Maison Corthay shoes.
In the end, the night raised about R1.5-million for the cause, thanks largely to contributions from the Telkom and Nedbank foundations, with the latter handing over a cheque for R750 000.
Bo, Given Mabena, LeAnne Dlamini and The Soil led the entertainment and, although it was well intentioned to follow the night’s Africa Reimagined theme through to our three-course meal, it was a culinary groan for Banting dieters and those with spice allergies.
Think chilli and starch in the liver-and-polenta starter, and the shisa nyama fillet with pap main. Sadly, the Malva pud dessert didn’t rescue the culinary experience either.