Spring may be playing coy, but the social scene is heating up, with not one but three sizzling do’s in the spotlight this week, from lapping up a fresh beauty potion to a peek at the latest season of a juicy reality TV contest and onto welcoming the newest US envoy.
Let’s start with diplomatic matters.
On Thursday evening, I found myself hanging out with the Yanks when the American Society of South Africa held a mixer to welcome the US consul-general Stephanie Bunce to the country.
Arriving at the emissary’s official residence in the leafy Joburg suburb of Houghton Estate, I am greeted by entrepreneur Allana Foster-Finley, president of the social and networking organisation for Americans in the country. She introduces me to two of the embassy’s newest imports — David Schneider, who is in the US foreign service, and public relations officer Vanessa Toscano.
While there is no denying that US-South Africa relations have been a lot cooler these days, it is interesting to note the mission hasn’t slowed down — I learn that David and Vanessa are part of 20 new staff to take up posts in South Africa this year.
The most senior, of course, is the consul-general, who was previously in Sierra Leone. “This is the nicest place I have lived in,” says Bunce, who has also held posts in Burundi, Australia, Yemen and Syria, about her new digs.
The evening starts with a performance by 19-member a cappella group Amazwi8 before David welcomes us all and introduces Stephanie, who arrived in South Africa earlier this month. “The ties between South Africa and the US are strong and alive and well, and I can see that in this room,” the consul-general says, sharing that she first visited the country as a tourist 20 years ago, and had been “trying to get back ever since”.
When Allana goes up, she introduces her fellow board members, who include Nicki Wingate, who runs tour company Exclusively Africa, which arranges safaris for US tourists across the continent; US trade expert Bradley Jackson; and Sparkly Mokgosi, the organisation’s previous president.
Others who turned up included Langa Khanyile of PepsiCo, businessman Tendai Furamera, media entrepreneur Olwethu Leshabane, actor Anthony Oseyemi, and solar entrepreneur Hilton Musk (yes, he’s related to Elon, they’re second cousins).
Then there was US-born Roger Ballen, the multiaward-winning artist and photographer known for his unsettling and challenging work, and his son, Paul Ballen, who is better known for his ice cream business Paul’s. “His ice cream is art,” says Roger about his son’s sweeter line of work.
Foodwise, I had been expecting a night of burgers, hot dogs and BBQ but, instead, I was delighted by the spread from caterers Norma & Co which included lamb kofta with tzatziki, smoked salmon pate on pita toasts, Camembert, tomato and rocket croute, and bowls of butter chicken with basmati rice.
Butter chicken was also on the menu at Wednesday evening’s preview of the latest season of Tropika Island of Treasure, the hugely popular reality TV competition which plonks contestants on a desert island where they duel for a big prize.
However, this time around, the food played to a spicy theme, as the setting for the new series, which debuts on SABC3 next Saturday evening, is Zanzibar.
A smorgasbord of other delights included mushroom and mozzarella arancini balls, tuna tartare, panko coated fish goujons and pulled beef tacos.
In keeping with the island-style theme, guests — who included two of Tyla’s siblings, TikToker Halle Robinson, Dr Fez Mkhize and this year’s contestants Bobbi van Jaarsveld, former Miss South Africa Ndavi Nokeri and actor Hungani Ndlovu — were greeted by a marimba band as they made their way onto the blue carpet before sampling cocktail slushies at the tiki bar.
“There’s a lot of drama. It’s spicy. There are some moments where it’s touch and go,” said Hungani, sharing a few juicy details about what we can expect from the series.
“Being in a pageant I always had to be elegant, hair is perfect… but on the island I literally had to get my hands dirty,” said Ndavi when asked about the difference between competing in Miss South Africa and the TV contest.
While the preview of the 11th season of Tropika Island of Treasure took place at the Hyde Park Corner’s NuMetro cinema, a hop and a skip away in Sandton City, French beauty house Clarins was showing off the ninth iteration of its ground-breaking Double Serum. “Tonight is a moment all about celebrating women,” explained Bronwen Olivier, Clarins South Africa’s marketing and digital exec at the start of the occasion.
She was referring not only to the age-defying qualities of the wonder potion, but also the nine women featured in a video shown on screens, including businesswoman Amanda Dambuza, modesty influencer Thameenah Saint and Rachel Kolisi, who couldn’t make it to the event as the Kolisi brood are in the midst of packing up for their big trek back home from France.
Held at the landmark shopping centre’s main court, the area was transformed into a Clarins pop-up store, which is open until next Sunday.
At the site, shoppers will be able to not only snap up their favourite products from the French family-owned house but also attend makeup master classes, pick up self-care tips and take fitness classes.
Guests, including Ayanda Thabethe (no, not the popular TV presenter but a former Miss SA finalist), were served delicious morsels including beef tataki skewers with roasted garlic aioli, beetroot-cured salmon with avo crema on a rice crisp, slow-roasted pork belly with pineapple and basil salsa, mini crispy chicken bao buns and cheddar and Parmesan tarts with caramelised onions.
- Additional reporting by Masi Losi
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