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It started as a testosterone-fuelled week with the charitable efforts of a lanky radio man (who proved to be a bit of a softie), a dapper rapper and a Bok on the comeback trail. And it ended with a pink-, blue- and white-striped tribute by one of the county’s leading photo artists.
First, a sea of mostly navy and black tailored threads at the Sandton HQ of one of the country’s leading media companies for the launch of a foundation offering a shoulder to rural high-schoolers as they navigate their career paths.
Mid-morning talk radio host Clement Manyathela drew an impressive roll call of mostly menfolk of the power-broker kind, including politicos ActionSA president Herman Mashaba and Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi (who I see so often on the social whirl he could write this column), deputy chief justice Dunstan Mlambo, TV production boss Alan Ford, business titans Bonang Mohale and Happy Ntshingila, and marketers Abey Mokgwatsane and Thebe Ikalafeng (who, like that old MTN tagline, is “everywhere you go”) for the launch of Clement’s foundation.
The first person I greet is the man at the helm of the largest banking group on the continent. Sim Tshabalala also happens to be one of the most down-to-earth people and is upbeat about our economy taking a turn for the best. However, while we could discuss how the Standard Bank Group has posted a record profit for the first half of the year, I cheekily ask instead about succession plans in the midst of an exodus of top staff.
“As regards alumni and competitors, we are proud of them. But there are many more where they come from,” says Sim.
I greet Bongani Bingwa, the veteran broadcaster who looks snazzy in a black and white suit, before chatting to one of the few roses among all these tailored thorns, Azania Mosaka, back in the country after her stint at the UN in Geneva.
Among the ladies in our midst, I spot Nolitha Fakude, Anglo American’s South African chair, and maths professor and former UCT vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng, who is wearing a striking skirt with tasselled trim fashioned from fabric gifted to her by the wife of the then governor of Abia State in Nigeria, which is known for its oil and gas reserves, as well as its strong manufacturing hub.
It’s a night long on speeches, with a touching moment when Clement wells up as he recounts the overwhelming support from many captains of industry who didn’t hesitate when he asked them to join his cause as trustees for the foundation, which provides psychosocial and career guidance for learners in rural schools.
“They are experiencing trauma; some are exposed to extreme poverty, others to violence at home … and they have no outlet,” points out the broadcaster.
Another such moment was when we heard from Tselere Robinson Phaswana, principal of Hlalakahle Secondary, Clement’s old school in Mpumalanga.
Staying with good deeds, the next afternoon was the announcement of the 150kW Legacy Fund, which puts petrol in the tank for charities, communities or individuals who, as rapper Khuli Chana says, “need someone to help power their next”.
“In hip-hop we call it ‘putting each other on’. It’s an initiative where you can nominate someone you believe in, and R150,000 will be funded to them.”
We were at the Mitsubishi dealership in Clearwater, Roodepoort, for the venture (the name comes from the output of the carmarker’s Triton Bi-Turbo). Joining Khuli at the event was Retshegofaditswe “Tshego” Nché, the rugby prop who, weighing a hefty 117kg, is better known as Ox.
With the announcement that he would be joining the Boks against the All Blacks yesterday, I wanted to know what we could expect from the game’s greatest rivals.
“Exciting,” is all Ox offered.
For a change of scenery, I decided to close off the week at an exhibition of photo essays documenting transgender women and gender-nonconforming individuals by Zanele Muholi.
Brave Beauties, curated by trans activist Yaya Mavundla, is fittingly on show at the Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill, Braamfontein.
“For more than 15 years I documented mostly trans women. The trans legacy in South Africa is so important … it’s about saying let’s celebrate these women as they are living now. And as the country commemorates and celebrates Women’s Month, it is important that we see the faces of trans women as part of the movement,” explained the internationally feted artist and activist.
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