It's rare to arrive at an event and witness staff frantically adding more tables.
But, with guests only invited a couple of days before, I guess the BET Legend's Night hosted by National Basketball Association star Bismack Biyombo was a case of last-minute shooting hoops.
This was Wednesday evening and the location was Moyo Zoo Lake, the pan-African restaurant set in arguably Joburg's most famous green lung.
Walking into the restaurant, I greet Criselda Dudumashe, the radio presenter with a penchant for traditional regalia.
What are you up to these days, I ask, to which the SAfm anchor replies matter-of-factly: "Making money."
Someone also raking in the dough thanks to her growing list of endorsements is the night's MC, Nomzamo Mbatha, who is wearing a sequined dress that shows off her ample assets.Is that a Gert Johan Coetzee? I ask the actress, who earlier this year modelled the finale dress for the Klerksdorp-raised designer.
"No, I bought it online," she answers.
Mmkay ...
As Nomzamo, who is an ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, greets Needa Jehu-Mazou (head of private partnerships for the UN organisation), I spot Mandela grandson Kweku Amuah, who looks like he is wearing the same beanie he had on at the Global Citizen festival launch a couple of weeks ago.
Other guests at tables around the room include Candice Modiselle - who is free to attend grown-up events these days after leaving YoTV - Nandi Madida and Zakes Bantwini, and the always stylish DJ Zinhle.
By now it's almost two hours since the event began but all we have to snack on is bread and dips as we wait for the man of the hour and his fellow lanky colleagues in town for the NBA Africa Game a few days later.
When the Congo-born Charlotte Hornets star does arrive, Nomzamo gets up on stage, apologising for the delay with a reference to "African time", at which we all roll our eyes.But the 2.06m-tall player, who captained Team Africa in this week's game and who will reportedly earn $17m (about R228m) in the next NBA season, wins us over when he speaks about his commitment to uplifting his fellow countrymen.
"When I first had this idea of helping, I never thought it would have such a big impact," he says about the work of his foundation, which has grown from building schools in the war-torn country to refurbishing hospitals. And then there's the Democratic Republic of the Congo's very first covered basketball stadium, which will soon open and bear his name.Highlight of the event is when funnyman Donovan Goliath has us rolling in the aisles (more about him later in the column), while Sjava, who landed the Viewer's Choice Best International Act gong at this year's BET awards, also performs.
And what did we tuck in to when we finally got to line our bellies?
Sweet potato soup served in tin mugs with salad starters and a shisa nyama-style buffet featuring flame-grilled cauliflower steaks, mfino, grilled mielies, boerewors, grilled chuck and calamari sautéed with olives, broccoli and garlic. Dessert included malva pudding, mixed berry trifles and koeksisters...