Keith Sweat in da house

Taking a leaf out of Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula's book, IT billionaire Robert Gumede is bringing in 52-year-old US R&B crooner Keith Sweat to help him celebrate his 50th birthday in Mpumalanga this weekend.

Gumede has apparently planned a busy weekend, one that includes a golf day and a "ladies luncheon and tea party".

There's even a Robert Gumede and Guma "thanksgiving six to six music festival", which will see '90s superstar Sweat supported by local stars such as Khuli Chana, AKA, Zahara, Zakes Bantwini, Dr Malinga and Mafikizolo.

The weekend in Nelspruit will culminate in a fireworks display.

Mbalula and Gumede are not alone in bringing stars from the 90s to the country. Even local promoters seem to be obsessed with trips down memory lane.

It's only a week since Tevin Campbell wrapped his three-city tour of South Africa.

Another US star, Kenny Lattimore, 43, who arrived on Sunday, headlines the second Women's Day Soul Revival show at Morula Casino, just outside Pretoria, on Friday evening.

A day before that, fellow US performer R Kelly will open his Single Ladies Tour at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, before playing at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.

Gumede, judging from previous parties, does not shy away from splashing the dosh.

His 2010 wedding to Portia Mkhize in Nelspruit saw the pair marry in front of 2500 wealthy guests (who included Zambian mining minister Maxwell Mwale, former Madagascan president Marc Ravalomanana and Durban businessman Vivian Reddy) at the Nelspruit Golf Club.

His medical doctor wife Portia arrived in a Rolls-Royce to the strains of Ave Maria, played by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra.

The cloth-bound and calligraphy-decorated invitations reportedly cost about R3-million. Estimating the amount of money spent on cognac, cigars and caviar would cause many people to have heart palpitations.

Lunice Johnston from Vuma Reputation Management said the menu would consist of the "best that South Africa and the region can present".

"Business clients, business partners, friends, foreign dignitaries and captains of industry from across the globe have been invited to join him and his family as they celebrate several important milestones with the people of his hometown of Nelspruit, Mbombela, in Mpumalanga," she said.