SEE HOW THE ANC GOT DOWN IN CAPE TOWN
The Champagne flows in Cape Town as the ANC celebrates the 103rd anniversary of its founding
THE ANC finally took over the Western Cape — for one weekend, that is. From walkabouts in Mitchells Plain to all-night beach jols, the ruling party celebrated its 103rd birthday in style when a sea of card-carrying members and top brass descended on Cape Town this week.
Flights to the Mother City were packed with Louis Vuittonand Gucci-toting comrades, who landed in time for the cakecutting on Thursday at OR Tambo Hall in Khayelitsha.
There were gatherings and gigs from Green Point hot spot Cubana to shisa nyama stalwart Mzoli’s Place. Here’s a roundup of the key party points.
THE WARM-UP
The place to be on Thursday evening was Shimmy Beach Club. A section of the Water- front venue was cordoned off for the party. Despite the official 6pm start, things got going only at about 11pm, when guests, including Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Bheki Cele, who looked dapper in his trademark panama hat, started to arrive.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula swagged it up in a hip-hop-inspired outfit that included a snapback cap and on-trend high-top sneakers. Other guests who enjoyed the Moët Champagne and 18-year-old Glenfiddich whisky included Mafikizolo’s Nhlanhla Nciza and Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Lebo Gunguluza.
DJ Oskido played a set that featured revolutionary songs, including the popular Emzabalazweni, which had the house on fire. Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, known as “Mama Action”, led the charge on the dance floor, even joining in on the ever-popular Electric Slide.
THE GALA DINNER
Streams of top-of-the-range Mercedes SUVs clogged the entrance to the Cape Town International Convention Centre as the ANC A-list arrived for Friday night’s gala event.
Security was tight, with bodyguards darting around. President Jacob Zuma was whisked in via an underground entrance. Sartorial efforts ranged from the slightly underdressed but stylish Mandla Mandela in a maXhosa by Laduma jersey, to National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete, who looked chic in a neat black peplum dress.
The dinner started three hours late and ended just before midnight. The MC was the boring treasurer-general, Zweli Mkhize, who hosted the event like he was chairing an ANC meeting. Zuma and his wives Thobeka Madiba-Zuma and Bongi Ngema-Zuma shared a table with guests who included Safa boss Danny Jordaan and businessman Patrice Motsepe and his wife, Dr Precious MoloiMotsepe.
The crowd was woken up when Zahara took to the stage, with the highlight of the night being Zuma joining muso Dr Malinga on the dance floor.
A low point? The cash bar. Surely the ANC could have sprung for more than just water and average wine on the tables?
About 2 500 guests were treated to starters of mozzarella and roasted plum tomato salad with a herb garden bouquet, basil pesto and an aged balsamic reduction. The main meal consisted of mango-and-leek-stuffed chicken breast supreme on a Lyonnaise potato bake with steamed vegetables and saffron velouté. Dessert was mandarin cheesecake and tiramisu mocha mousse served with fresh fruit and piped chocolate.
THE AFTER-PARTY
Bottles of expensive booze and cigars were the order of the day at upmarket club Le Roi in Camps Bay. At R200 a pop just to get in, this was where the Lacoste loafers, the designer golf shirts over beer bellies and the newly launched ANC panama hats littered the room.
As an accessory, a pretty, young, Brazilian-weaved girl in skimpy clothing was the musthave for the men.
Before midnight, it was the young crowd who could not afford the rumoured R15 000 gala dinner fee who hit the club and splurged on Champagne, whisky and vodka at up to R3 500 a bottle.
The idea was for “chiefs” and “comrades”— as they constantly referred to one another — to mingle and party up a storm. And they did just that, with the help of DJs Sbu Leope and Vinny Da Vinci on the decks.
By one in the morning, the tailored suits had arrived in droves from the gala dinner to join the revelry, with even more bottles being delivered to already crammed tables.