Has one of South Africa’s sweethearts found love again — this time in the arms of a prominent former banker?
That’s what crossed my mind when I noticed the attractive couple on Thursday evening at the opening night of the SA Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2025 collections.
However, before we take a peek at the two seated in the frow at Gert Johan Coetzee’s triumphant showing, let’s head to a library set on a sprawling estate spanning some 45 hectares, home to one of the world’s wealthiest dynasties.
Brenthurst Library was built by Harry Oppenheimer on the grounds of the Parktown, Johannesburg, property which had been in his family since 1922.
Possibly the largest private repository of Africana housing a collection of some 20,000 manuscripts, maps including a 1507 woodcut map of Africa and photographs such as a salt print portrait of Thomas Baines, it was opened by Alan Paton in 1984.
You would be hard pressed to find a more fitting venue for the Sunday Times Literary Awards and Exclusive Books to host an evening with a Nobel Prize Laureate.
And so, on Wednesday evening a select group of the literary inclined, media types and not forgetting the second richest man in the land, arrived at the Hans Hallen-designed building to listen to Abdulrazak Gurnah, who was awarded the hallowed prize in 2021, in conversation with UJ professor Bongani Ngqulunga.
Under a canopy set up outside the entrance, we savour canapes including black sesame parmesan crisps topped with smashed avo and horseradish crème fraiche, pea and mint arancini balls, char-grilled chicken Yakitori skewers, mini lamb bobotie pies and light-as-a-feather smoked salmon potato cakes from caterer Sandy’s.
I catch up with broadcaster and author Joanne Joseph before spotting a familiar face whose distinctive beard could make him a shoo-in for a trimmer Father Christmas if you blink.
Would we be able to take a photo of you? I ask Nicky Oppenheimer.
“Possibly, if you find me afterwards,” replies the man Forbes estimates is worth a cool $9.6bn, as he makes his way inside.
The proceedings start with Nicky sharing a brief history of the library his father built, pointing out that the collection includes handwritten scripts from Alan Paton whose acclaimed works, including Cry, The Beloved Country, inspired the establishment of the literary awards.
The on-stage conversation between the two profs which ensues touches on subjects explored in the author’s body of work including novels Memories of Departure, Paradise, By the Sea and Desertion.
Peppered with occasional light moments, we gain a good grasp of how Abdulrazak, who speaks in a warm but authoritative tone that commands attention, uses fiction to allow us to better understand subjects even more pertinent today.
Perhaps because English isn’t his first language, you also gain the impression that each word he uses is carefully considered.
While words are Abdulrazak’s craft, a little further north and down three parking levels beneath Melrose Arch the following evening, I got an eyeful of what the local architects of cloth see in our fashion future.
Fashion show producers do have a fondness for putting on a show in a parking lot.
However, the slight slope of the floor proved a challenge for models walking in the sublime collection for Jacques Bam’s The Bam Collective.
Jacques shared his catwalk presentation with ERRE and crowd-favourite Ephymol as one of four shows which took place on the night.
Beforehand, I found Sophie Ndaba, wearing an ensemble by Thabo Maserumule of Thunderstorm, in the VIP room.
The vivacious actress graciously arranged a cocktail for me.
“I made sure it’s strong, so I don’t have to go to the bar in my moon boot to get you another one,” quipped the actress, pointing to the orthopaedic device on her foot on account of a sprained ankle.
A new move this year was the introduction of an SAFW dress code of “modest neutrals, black or white” and a request to “be mindful of the other guests in the arena when selecting hair and accessories, to not obscure their view”.
“I am here for it. Ek is nie die hoofmeisie van hierdie partytjie. If you want to tell me what I should wear, thank you,” said TV presenter and actress Leandie du Randt.
“Dress code? I am the dress code,” said Nadia Nakai, who was wearing a cobalt blue wrap by The Bam Collective before changing into a bold Gert Johan Coetzee number for his show.
Meanwhile, theatre practitioner and human rights activist Thokozani Ndaba assured me that the mitre worn as part of her papal inspired look was not an obstruction.
On to Vanessa Carreira-Coutroulis, who is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women in the land.
Many of us felt her pain after her husband, Taboo nightclub owner Chris Coutroulis, passed away three years ago.
Tragically, the mom of four also lost her dad in March this year.
Noticing that the keen foodie and Miss SA 2001 arrived to watch Gert’s collection with debonair former Goldman Sachs CEO for Sub Saharan Africa, Colin Coleman, I was curious to find out whether Cupid’s arrow had struck.
And you two? I ask, to which Vanessa smiles politely.
“Ah! I guess we will read all about it in the Sunday Times on Sunday,” offered the ever-suave Colin.
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