The A-Listers

SOCIALS | Who's who and who's new in Mzansi's celebville

20 January 2019 - 00:00 By Craig Jacobs

Take a grand society dame, one of the land's hottest female celebs, and add a dash of soccer royalty.
Stir in a no-holds-barred political wife, a funnyman who doesn't cuss and a soon-to- be sexagenarian businesswoman sexier than women half her age. Finish off with TV's newest eligible bloke and a blast from the past on the cusp of a comeback and, voilà, that's my pick for this year's ultimate A-List.
But what about a suitable setting for the second annual gathering of these individuals influential not only in their realms but who effortlessly stand out from the crowd?
I tapped one of the land's top party planners, Jill Grogor of Zebra Square, who found the perfect spot: a secret venue in the heart of one of the country's top hotels, where my guests could tuck in to a feast washed down with the finest French bubbles.
The eight A-Listers were invited to meet on the outside patio of the swish Sandton Sun, where they were welcomed with canapés and glasses of Veuve Clicquot.
First to arrive at the San Deck, as the outside area is called, is society doyenne Peta Eggierth-Symes, who has probably graced more fashion do's than Imelda Marcos has pairs of shoes.
Peta looked the part but fessed up that she had been a little worried that, with two months of holiday revelries, she might not have fitted into her slinky, long red gown finished off with matching hat.
Next up is Carvin Goldstone, who admitted that he had had a bit of a wardrobe dilemma himself. The funnyman, who especially came up from Durban for the lunch, had forgotten the trousers of his tan coloured suit at home and had to dash to Sandton City to find a replacement.
Ooops!
That's the funnyman and the grand dame, but what about the bloke bound to make womenfolk across the land swoon when M-Net's The Bachelor SA arrives on our screens come Valentine's Day?
In walks hunky entrepreneur, former Sharks player and model Lee Thompson as though he's just stepped off a yacht moored off the south of France.
Last guy on the list is someone who is the son of a South African soccer legend and who, newly single, could be a good candidate to follow Lee's lead if there's a second series of the reality-TV dating show.
That's Kaizer Motaung jnr, whose dad, of course, is the founder of one of the country's biggest soccer clubs, Kaizer Chiefs, and who also had an impressive soccer career before hanging up his boots four years ago.
You'll want to know, though, about the rest of the ladies, and they include Norma Gigaba, the outspoken wife of former minister Malusi Gigaba, and businesswoman Judi Nwokedi, who told me she's celebrating her milestone birthday by holding a series of monthly "birthday activations" instead of one big bash, with the first one in London this weekend and the next in Cape Town.
The comeback girl? Those with long memories will remember Chichi Letswalo, who at the start of this millennium was the land's top it girl as the host of SABC3 programme The Wedding Show before disappearing off our radar.
Well, having honed her craft studying acting in New York, Chichi showed off her acting chops on local drama series Isithembiso last year and is set to capitalise on renewed interest in her this year.
The only name from last year's inaugural A-List is TV host, DJ and Metro FM presenter Lerato Kganyago, who turned heads in a lime-green pantsuit showing off her ample bosom.
Now about that secret spot: I led my guests to an area usually off-limits to patrons: the hotel's busy industrial kitchen where a special chef's table had been laid out just a few steps from where chef Chad Bosman and his team were preparing our three-course lunch.
In come starters of salmon carpaccio with kimchi, cream cheese and furikake (a type of Japanese seasoning, FYI), ending with a dash of yuzu caviar paired with Veuve's signature Yellow Label, while our main course was a duo of duck with parmesan gnocchi, shimeji mushrooms, drizzled with truffle oil.
Dessert is deconstructed mandarin tart with ginger-nut crumble, raspberries and shards of thyme-infused meringue, which we finished off with the French champagne house's sweeter tipple, called Rich.
Check out my A-List for 2019:
The vamp
Lerato Kganyago is the only personality to return from the inaugural ultimate A-List, reflecting the fact that she has cemented her position as one of SA's most influential celebs. This Soweto girl had a series of career highs last year, including two top accolades: Most Stylish Media Personality at the SA Style Awards and Best Presenter at the South African Film and Television Awards. She was also the first host of Project Runway South Africa.
The comeback girl
TV personality Chichi Letswalo has seen it all - from being discovered in a shopping mall to becoming a household name, from bouts of depression to clawing her way back after studying drama in the US. Last year she finally found herself back on the box as the lead on Mzansi Magic's Isithembiso - and scored a couple of awards in the process. This year will see her explore a host of new TV opportunities.
The leggy powerhouse
Style isn't part of the job spec when your title is secretary-general of the Black Business Council. But then, Judi Nwokedi, who is also the chief operating officer of global tourism company Tourvest, has never been one to fit the mould. The businesswoman is known as much for her acumen as her short skirts.
The outspoken political wife
If you thought Norma Gigaba would tone down her outspokenness after husband Malusi's political career took a knock you'd be in for a major surprise. However, the IT entrepreneur might have to tone down her social schedule because she's going back to college.
The football prince
Last year Kaizer Motaung jnr had to contend with a messy break-up from his wife, Katherine, and a custody battle over their son. But the former striker is hoping 2019 will mark the turning of the page. Career-wise, having completed his business studies he is planning to carve his own future in football administration.
The social doyenne
As the owner of top boutique Pallu, Peta Eggierth-Symes dressed high society in style for many moons. Then she put a hold on her retail foray to spend more time with her husband, Peter, and their beloved Great Dane, Hammy. It has given her more time to lunch and attend some of the fanciest do's across the land. With her glam style, sense of humour and effervescence, she can show the new upstarts a thing or two about how to grace an occasion with flair.
The new bae
With the gig of deciding who to hand a rose to among 24 adoring women in his pursuit of a wife, Lee Thompson is set to break quite a few hearts from Valentine's Day. As the very first bachelor in TheBachelor SA, he sports the good looks and Colgate smile required for the part - but it will be interesting to see if the former Sharks player and entrepreneur will win the hearts of viewers and the public.
The newly crowned comedy king
Comedian Carvin Goldstone keeps his stand-up clear of the swear words most of his peers use as their punch lines. Last year he scored two Comic of the Year nods at the Savanna Comics' Choice Awards and his Last Minute dot Comedy shows - announced a couple of days before they are held - are upending the way comedy events are staged...

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