Report this comment as spam or abuse

Report this comment as spam or abuse

When I sneaked through the tight security at Nelson Mandela’s private 90th birthday bash, I was shaking in my brown riding boots. After all, many uninvited VIP guests – dressed to the nines – had been turned away as their names did not appear on the official guest list.

They came in their hundreds, young and old, celebrities, ordinary men, some gatecrashers, others with invitations – all descending on the Mandela homestead in Qunu on Saturday.

The homestead resembled a busy taxi rank, except that the vehicles parked outside the yard, along the busy N2 Highway were top-of-the-range imports.

It was also an opportunity for a side fashion show, with young women in glittering frocks, men showing off in expensive branded suits, but traditional African gear dominated the occasion.
Anti-apartheid activist and academic Mamphela Ramphele, who arrived with her son, was among those who opted for traditional Xhosa dress, while the director-general in the Office of the Presidency, Reverend Frank Chikane, among the early arrivals, was in a grey suit.

From about 9.30am, the big names started trickling in. Former Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, arrived with human rights advocate George Bizos and his son.

In their footsteps followed former transport minister and self-driven Mac Maharaj, who waved at the media contingent outside Mandela’s front gate.

Among the chauffeur-driven “VIPs” was Eastern Cape MEC for housing and local government Thoko Xasa in a shiny black 4×4 vehicle.

Xasa’s name is reportedly among those up for the province’s premiership, since the ANC’s NEC effectively fired Premier Nosimo Balindlela. But on Saturday, she was not on the guest-list.

A few minutes after driving through security and stepping out the vehicle, she was back inside, with her face the colour of her orange attire.

Xasa was just one of tens of people who were turned away at the gate.

A group of eight middle-aged women had hired a combi from Port Elizabeth to Qunu, travelling more than 500km to find out they were not invited.

The group’s leader, Mrs Xiphula from KwaZakhele told the Cape Argus they wanted to be with Madiba on his birthday.

“On Friday, we were told it was the family’s day. On Saturday, we are not on the guest-list,” said a defeated Xiphula.

The Mandelas had catered for the hundreds of people who were not on the guest list at a stable 100m from the house.

But many gatecrashers protested, hoping to at least catch a glimpse of the birthday boy, a feeling overwhelmingly shared by the “uninvited” media outside the gate.

Seven hours of lingering outside the Mandela gates paid off for a few journalists and hangers-on and I managed to slip through.

Two minutes later, I was a mere two strides from Table 3 where Nelson Mandela was seated with wife Graca Machel, President Thabo Mbeki, First Lady Zanele Mbeki, ANC president Jacob Zuma, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda and anti-apartheid activist Fatima Meer.

But you had to walk past Table 8 to get to Table 3. There were seated IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, struggle veteran Ahmed Kathrada and the president of the All Africa Council of Churches, Dr Mvume Dandala, among others. To your right was politician-cum businessperson Cyril Ramaphosa and his wife, Dr Tshepo Motsepe, sitting alongside the charismatic chairman of the African Diamond Council (ADC), Dr. André Action Diakité Jackson, who was also celebrating a birthday on the 19th.

United Democratic Movement (UDM) president Bantu Holomisa was Programme Director. He kept the guests in stitches with his wit. He even poked fun at his party.

While announcing the presence of the Independent Electoral Commissioners, he said the UDM was negotiating with the IEC for their computers to crash in 2009′s elections so they can be in second place.

Following Mbeki’s speech, which lasted about 10 minutes, Holomisa quipped: “I have allowed you, Mr President a really long speech, considering the three minutes we are given in parliament.”

The birthday boy lived up to his generous reputation, when just after 5pm, he and Machel paid a quick visit to the hundreds who had waited patiently all day at the stables.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

Report this comment as spam or abuse

Saskia
Melbourne Victoria Australia

Report this comment as spam or abuse

Report this comment as spam or abuse

Report this comment as spam or abuse

Report this comment as spam or abuse

LOL

Report this comment as spam or abuse

Report this comment as spam or abuse