No matter that comrades of the ANC's national executive committee couldn't pitch (more about that elsewhere in this paper), the double celebration for the party's nattiest spin king was a good enough way to spend a Friday evening.
This was the birthday bash/send-off for Zizi Goodenough Kodwa, who turned 48 on the day and whose term as ANC national spokesman ended at the party conference last month. The celebration was held at the Sandton Radisson Blu hotel.
It drew friends and media frenemies. Among them were his best mates, KwaZulu-Natal attorney AD Dandala and Songezo Mjongile, a former ANC Western Cape secretary. Others included nightclub owner Chris Coutroulis, whose spot Taboo is where Zizi likes to boogie, political commentator Karima Brown and Sunday Times editor Bongani Siqoko.
Glamour was well served by A-List sisters Johanna Mukoki and Basetsana Kumalo. They arrived with their other halves, Chris Mukoki and Romeo Kumalo.
There was a triumvirate of political wives, Nozuko Mbalula (wife of Fikile), Thembeka Ngcobo (Bheki Cele's spouse) and Malusi Gigaba's Twittering partner, Norma.
Zizi walked in pushing a pram as stylish as his suit. The pram carried his two-month-old daughter, Zoe. His wife, Zama, wore a glittering gown.
What did you give your hubby, I asked Zama.
"I planned all of this," she answered.
"I am sure you will agree it's the best gift ever."
The night was MCed by businessman Mava Ndamase and comedian Chris Mampala (who had a tough crowd to woo, with many seemingly distracted by the goings-on at the NEC meeting in Irene).
There were speeches by Zama and Songezo. Khusela Diko, of the ANC comms office, said her all-time favourite Zizi line was: "The president has the power to appoint and at times to disappoint ministers."This was Zizi's night and we were transfixed when he got on stage, joking that he "wasn't used to speaking to people when there are no cameras; it feels as though I am talking to myself".
Was he sending a message to No1 when he said this of his resignation: "A good dancer knows when to leave the stage ... The right time to go is when you get a standing ovation because if you don't go [then] and come back, there might be bottles [thrown at you]."
The grub?
Buffet-style dishes from tabbouleh and spicy paprika beef with potatoes and bell peppers in a yoghurt dressing, salads to sun-dried tomato tagliatelle pasta, Norwegian salmon and beef short-rib curry. Zizi's two-tiered birthday cake was as stylish as the spin doctor's wardrobe...