IN PICS | Boxing clever for change for girls

It was in a bombed-out church in war-ravaged Liberia in the late 1990s that Malaak Compton-Rock had a light-bulb moment.

Working for Unicef, the humanitarian and author had been accompanying one of the UN organisation’s ambassadors, actor Laurence Fishburne, on a mission when a little girl clung to her legs and whispered: “I want peace, not war.”

“That second, I made the decision that — if I’m lucky — I would work on behalf of the girl child for the rest of my life. And that brings me here today,” she told an audience of possibly the most stylish charitable folk in the land on Thursday evening. They included businesswomen Amanda Dambuza and Yolanda Miya, soccer comms queen Connie Motshumi, VS Luxury group founder Vika Shipalana and brand guru Thebe Ikalafeng.

We were all gathered at The Venue Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, for the second annual fundraising dinner for The Journey for Change Scholars for Girls, the programme run by Malaak’s NPO, the Angelrock Project South Africa.

Earlier, the former Hollywood publicist who has two daughters with former husband comedian Chris Rock and an adopted daughter, told me it was a trip to South Africa 17 years ago when she visited Diepsloot that convinced her to focus her philanthropic work here.

Angelrock has worked on various initiatives, mostly concentrated in the Joburg informal settlement next to Steyn City, while the scholar programme started three years ago.

Up the stairs, in the cocktail area, I greet Amanda, who with Vika was instrumental in putting the dinner together, and catch up with Nolitha Fakude, the Anglo American chair who recently came back from the US where she was part of a 10-member delegation trying to convince the Americans not to shutter the Agoa agreement.

“We were well received by our counterparts,” Nolitha says diplomatically.

Downstairs, I find myself seated next to economist Thabi Leoka for a dinner which comprised a butternut soup starter with a subtle chilli kick, a choice of mains (I opted for the roast beef fillet served with creamed mashed potatoes, creamy mushroom sauce and oven roast veggies) and a classic crème brûlée.

In between, the official bits were capably handled by Azania Mosaka.

Aside from being inspired by Malaak’s words, a highlight of the night was the keynote address by pint-sized scholars Elelwani Siobo, Nombulelo Nowalaza and Oratile Makola who are three of 20 girls selected to form part of the second edition of the education programme.

And, when Nolitha was honoured with the night’s community champion award, like many in the room I was dazzled by the confidence of Similo Nobumba, a grade 11 pupil at Sunrise Secondary School, who was part of the programme’s pilot cohort and who smoothly handled an onstage fireside chat with the business leader.

Meanwhile, I wonder how many more scholars Malaak could help with the coins Floyd Mayweather Jr dropped at the Gucci store in Sandton City a few days ago.

Mr Money, 46, and his 25-year old girlfriend Gallienne Nabila were spotted leaving the Italian luxury brand’s store flanked by heavily armed security during the South African leg of his Motherland tour.

The legendary boxer’s private jet landed at Lanseria Airport on Saturday afternoon from Zimbabwe, where he had been hosted by deep-pocketed Zanu-PF politician Scott Sakupwanya.

That evening, I attended a banquet dinner hosted by the undefeated champ at the Sandton Convention Centre. South African boxing legends including Brian Mitchell, Dingaan Thobela and Phillip Ndou, who got knocked out in the seventh round against Floyd in 2003, were also there.

Mind you, I’d wager that Phillip spent less time in the ring with Floyd than we had to wait before this shindig kicked off.

While the invite announced a 5pm red carpet start, we were only let into the main ballroom for the dinner three hours later, with starters served only at 9pm.

This had less to do with the local organisers’ planning (they served up top-notch talent led by MiCasa and the ballroom was lavishly decorated) and more, it seems, with Floyd’s promoter failing to get enough bums on seats.

During the wait, I caught up with a host of folks, including actress Sophie Ndaba, businesswoman Uyanda Mbuli and TV personality K Naomi, who turned up with her beau Tshepo Phakathi, and ogled the flashy wheels on display by Dada Motors, including a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Ferrari.

And I got to spot a bit of the backstage comings and goings, such as Tbo Touch being turned back by Floyd’s heavies when he tried to slip into the champ’s green room where he was having a quiet tête-à-tête with King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.