Horses for glam courses
Cape Town’s rich and beautiful come out to help a charity
From the real estate queen of the Atlantic Seaboard to a super-tanned retail heiress, and top opposition politico to the gorgeous ex-wife of the world’s most famous heart surgeon. Throw in a horse whisperer, a rugby captain whose friendship with Madiba inspired a Hollywood flick and an auction by a top funnyman (who ran around the room to drum up bids) — the Grand Ihashi Ball had the who’s who of Cape Town slip on their glad rags to support a charity that helps young people.
A fundraiser for the 2nd Chance charity took place on Thursday night at the Grand Africa Cafe & Beach near the Waterfront.
Arriving at the venue, I say hello to Denise Dogon, who sells properties that cost more than a small African country, and events specialist Julie Killias. Both were on the event’s planning committee and wearing flowing kaftans so favoured by the Cape Town glam set.
Sipping a delicious pineapple and gin cocktail created by Kurt Schlechter, I spot
Top Billing presenter Ayanda Thabethe as Julie introduces me to Renee Feinstein, heiress of the Foschini retail empire who is there with her husband, Leonard.
Commenting on her tan, I ask Renee, who is wearing a Dolce & Gabbana printed shirt dress, if she follows the sun.
“I am a swallow,” she says, pointing out that the couple (who are affectionately known as LenRen) spend four months of the year in South Africa and the rest of their time overseas, including at their luxurious south of France hotel Cap Estel that is 10 minutes from Monaco.
While waiters proffer those squareshaped margherita pizzas that the Grand is known for, and guests help themselves to a smorgasbord of sushi laid out on a farmstyle table, I am introduced to Jarryd Smith, the former addict who started 2nd Chance.
Jarryd is standing with Stacey Doorly Jones, the woman known as South Africa’s horse whisperer, who is the MD of the organisation. It turns out that Stacey’s work through equine-assisted healing is one of the powerful ways in which 2nd Chance helps people grappling with substance abuse, low self-esteem and other social problems, hence the title of the event (ihashi means “horse” in Xhosa).
In the venue, where models wear feathertrimmed garments by Cape Town designers Christian Gabriel du Toit and Malcolm Klûk of Klûk CGDT, I am seated between two photogenic sisters, Carla Antoni (wife of Cape Town starchitect Stefan) on my right and her actress sister, Dune Kossatz, on my left.
Also at our table are the former wife of our most famous heart surgeon, Karen Berman (formerly Barnard), and her husband, Saul.
As we tuck into our mains of fillet béarnaise and kingklip tagliata, which along with a niçoise salad are served in platters for us to share on the table, in walks the UDM’s Bantu Holomisa.
The general greets guests including Aubrey Ngcungama (whom you might recognise from the first series of foodie reality TV show Come Dine with Me) before making his way to join TV personality and businesswoman Carol Bouwer at her table.
“He’s come to replace my husband, who couldn’t be here tonight,” says Carol, who was also on the night’s planning committee.
During the auction, comedian Nik Rabinowitz does his best to get us to open up our designer wallets and bags.
He starts with a work by “the world’s only nonhuman painter”.
That’s Pigcasso, the painting pig.
The first work is sold for
R13 000 to Francois Pienaar, the Springbok captain whose team brought us the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Other items that went under the hammer were a two-night stay at LenRen’s south of France spot and Carol’s ostrich-skin bag from her line of accessories.
Lyn and Len Gullan make the highest bid for the most expensive piece on auction, a white and gold Cartier diamond necklace at R150 000.