RAW JOY EASES RAW WOUNDS

The VBS saga has taught us gratuitous payments are deeply suspect, but there’s nothing wrong with gratuitous pleasure as served up here

There is no doubt in my mind that former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene has a strong inyanga and an even stronger sangoma working together to protect his interests. How else do you explain that just days after he fell on his sword, his EFF accusers suddenly found themselves at the centre of the VBS Mutual Bank scandal?

When Nene fell everyone started warming themselves for a detailed analysis of his shameful behaviour.

But it was not to be. When it emerged that Brian Shivambu, younger brother to EFF supremo Floyd and himself a prominent member of the Red Berets, seems to have looted R16m from VBS, it was clear the focus would shift away from the shenanigans at the Saxonwold Shebeen. Floyd Shivambu has also been implicated, though the details are still sketchy.

City Press claimed at the weekend that even President Cyril Ramaphosa knew about the widespread looting at the bank but failed to take action. He denied the report on Monday.

The VBS scandal will break the stoutest heart. Tears of sadness, frustration and downright anger well in your eyes as you delve into the details. You seethe at the contrasting pictures: in one, the wife of alleged thief Robert Madzonga poses with a Lamborghini; in the photo next to it, old grannies sit on the ground outside a VBS branch, hoping to withdraw the money they’d saved — which money had by then disappeared.

Having read the Sunday newspapers, which left us deeply deflated, my daughter Malaika suggested we go and restore the tissues at a Korean restaurant in Rivonia. When she turned 16 a few months ago, we bought her a ticket to Seoul and she travelled with a friend and the friend’s mother — mainly because the two girls are besotted with Korean pop and everything Korean.

It was a cold, damp Sunday when we drove to Dae Jang Kum restaurant. The place was warm and humming with voices as diners put their chopsticks to good use.

I ordered tartare bibimbap — slivers of raw beef, a raw egg on a bed of rice, and veggies. I know. It sounds a bit gung-ho — raw egg, raw beef? — but you go beyond the looks, your tastebuds will stand up and cheer. Malaika had noodles in black bean sauce (jjajangmeyon), which came in a huge bowl that would have been intimidating but for the fact that at Korean restaurants the height of enjoyment is the sharing between members of a dining party.

Fred jnr raided my bibimbap, while I tucked into his grilled pork belly (saeng samgyeopsal). Khanyi’s marinated beef ribs were a bit disappointing: too much soy sauce. You could hardly taste the meat. Gugu’s stir-fried rice cake was an oddity. It looked like crab sticks while the sauce it floated in brought to mind a tomato-based Italian broth.

But I have learnt that in Korean cuisine looks are deceptive. The rice cake was more than divine. Comfort if food at its best. Then there were complimentary dumplings and an array of sauces and dips to enhance the enjoyment. In general terms, the attraction is that the restaurant’s fare is healthy. No grease. The service was great, but the ambience too spartan. You expect some beautiful art and music at a Korean place. Or have I been listening too much to my daughter?

All in all, a great Sunday dinner that cost a party of five R1,022, drinks included. Chicken feed to the VBS crowd.

The VBS scandal will break the stoutest heart. Tears of sadness, frustration and anger well in your eyes as you delve into the details

Dae Jang Kum ★★★★

20, 9th Avenue, Rivonia Tel: 011-234-7292

★★★★★ Lindiwe Sisulu

★★★★ Cyril Ramaphosa

★★★ Mmusi Maimane

★★ Bathabile Dlamini

★ VBS Mutual Bank