Turning 90-plus is a good innings — and when you’re also celebrating 70 years on a royal throne it’s a big deal.
So though I didn’t land an invite to the Trooping of the Colour parade marking the official celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday earlier this month, on Thursday afternoon I found myself about 9,000km away at a garden party in Pretoria to click glasses in acknowledgment of the Corgi-loving British monarch.
If you’re not an avid royal watcher you might be a little confused about when to wish old Lilibeth happy birthday. That’s because the longest-reigning Brit monarch was born on April 21 1926 but officially celebrates her birthday on the second Saturday in June, when the English weather is kinder. To complicate matters, this year that colourful birthday parade happened on June 2 as part of a broader programme to mark her platinum jubilee.
Trying to wrap my head around all this as I arrived at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Waterkloof led me straight to the bar set up in the manicured back yard where I pick up a G&T.
I head over to greet Thebe Magugu, the South African designer who is our biggest fashion export.
The Kimberley-born designer, whose career soared in 2019 when he was named the first African recipient of the esteemed LVMH prize (which comes with a €300,000 (about R5m) endowment and a priceless year-long mentorship from the French luxury company) was suave in a black suit with pleated tails.
Thebe was standing near an installation of his latest collection, an ode to eight tribes from the country. Thebe tells me his contribution to the expansive Africa Fashion exhibition opening at London’s V&A Museum next month is a key piece from his autumn winter 2021 collection, which was done in collab with traditional healer Noentla Khumalo.
Purple was the colour of the occasion, with flowers in the hue in pretty arrangements on cocktail tables while matching plush velvet couches created comfy spots on the lawn.
In walks someone who I see a lot on the social circuit these days — Dr Anna Mokgokong, who is off to Geneva on business tomorrow. “Never time for pleasure,” she says.
On to greeting business titan turned polico Herman Mashaba, who hands me an avocado green-coloured business card emblazoned with “Let’s Fix SA” and his personal contact details on the other.
I suggest many Joburg voters were crestfallen when the ActionSA leader wasn’t able to don those mayoral chains again, to which he replies: “I think it was a work of God so I can prepare for 2024.”
On to spotting a diminutive figure in the crowd dressed in business black with a pink blouse.
Shamila Batohi has a lot on her shoulders right now but I want to know from the National Director of Public Prosecutions whether the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has dispatched legal eagles to Dubai after the arrest of Atul and Rajesh Gupta in the UAE tax haven.
The seasoned prosecutor, who was senior legal adviser at the International Criminal Court in The Hague before taking up one of the country’s toughest posts, is friendly but holds her cards close to her chest.
“Journalists should allow the NPA to do their work,” is all she offers.
I retreat to sample the treats of a very modern British feast, like mini cucumber and cream cheese tea sandwiches, mini beef wellingtons, fish croquettes with a minty pea pesto and bite-sized Yorkshire puds filled with beef sausage and brown onion gravy.
I also sheepishly reveal to Langa Khanyile, who heads up marketing for Cadbury’s, one of the event’s sponsors, that I had swiped a couple of choc slabs off a décor table.
By this stage it is now over an hour since we’ve arrived but no official welcome from the newish Brit HC, Antony Phillipson, who took up the post in September last year.
A few minutes later the official bits finally start with a singing of the national anthems of SA and the UK.
Next the Brit diplomat, who previously held posts in Singapore and New York, welcomes us, emphasising the deep connection their nonagenarian head of state has with SA, starting from the speech she delivered from Cape Town on her 21st birthday.
Antony hands the mic over to Zane Dangor, DG for international relations, who is meant to deliver the birthday toast.
Usually at these sort of occasions local government heavies use the stage to beat the drum.
“My job here is to keep you in the cold while I read a 10-page speech,” the newly installed DG quips before he seemingly discards his prepared notes for a short and sweet address, ending with a toast to QE2.
All that’s left is the cutting of the cake before we all enjoy dessert, which includes buttermilk scones and mini lavender tea cakes.
From a British matriarch with a fondness for hats and overcoats to a financial services queen with a penchant for couture who helped the Gupta Leaks see the light of day.
Last Saturday billionaire businesswoman Magda Wierzycka unveiled her self-penned book on the life lessons and business principles that shaped her at a launch held at her Sygnia company offices in Greenpoint, Cape Town.
While I couldn’t make the trek down, someone who I spotted at the Queen’s birthday party in Pretoria did. That’s former leader of the opposition Mmusi Maimane, who came along with his wife, Natalie.
The founder of the One SA Movement joined guests mostly made up of Magda’s friends, family (including hubby Simon Peile and their sons Alexander and Nicholas) and colleagues for the occasion.
Meanwhile, Magda, who spoke of her humble beginnings as a Polish immigrant, doesn’t do anything by half-measures — she enlisted Gavin Rajah (who when he is not designing lavish gowns produces equally lavish events) to handle the occasion.
Guests were treated to “Magda Martinis” (comprising vodka, kumquat and cantaloupe juice with basil) on arrival, while food by caterer Annalize Buchanan included roasted grape and Dalewood fromage brie tartlets, tempura cauliflower florets, Korean BBQ chicken and oysters to start, followed by bowls of seared tuna on rice with lemon grass sauce and slow-roasted short rib on truffled mash.
Mind you, I was more interested in the nude with metallic sequinned cocktail dress Magda wore to grace the occasion.
The long-sleeve dress with leg baring hem was by American designer Oscar de la Renta.
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