Last week Tuesday, the Gauteng Youth Commission (GYC) hosted Gauteng's Young Achievers at a dinner with Premier Paul Mashatile and the do was held at the Sandton Convention Centre.
No disrespect to the Premier but the only reason I accepted the invite was because I imagined the possibility of meeting the legendary Julius Malema. I really thought he would be there but he wasn't so if anyone wants to be nice to me, introduce me to Julius Malema and allow me to spend at least an ininterrupted half hour with him.
On to what happened at the Convention Centre:
There was just something great about being there....just seeing so many beautiful young people all together in a venue, not to attend a CD launch, or an awards show but there so they could interact with the leader of our province.
Ladies, ladies, ladies...I was so amazed at the many gorgeous young black men I saw there... forget your singles parties, bars or whatever....go to these political gatherings if you wanna see how God has blessed Africa! Mzansi men rock maan, jerrrrrrrrrr....umm...back to the topic!
I would really like to see more of these events because it's really important for us be active in the country's politics because as the saying goes "Politics is too important to be left to the politicians" and I think it's a beautiful for young people to get involved because honestly, we are the future.
So even though Julius Malema may be labelled an idiot, big ups to him for drawing our attention to politics.
While we waited for the Premier...RJ Benjamin entertained us. I really have nothing against White EE (opposite of BEE) & generally I'm a huge fan of RJ but he was just not at his best that nite. I don't know if it was the fact that he did cover versions that irritated me and really now, he was on stage for what seemed like an eterntiy but all was forgiven as soon as he sang his Shut Up! Love that song!
The Gauteng Youth Ambassadors, were there looking really beautiful. I don't know if I'm getting soft coz of my old age but seeing these youngsters made me so happy....I mean look at all the people in this picture and think of what they've achieved so far in their (mostly) 20-something lives?? It just gives me this sense of "wow"...and I don't care what they do behind doors (one of them is cheating on their partnerS with someone who's cheating on their partner) but career wise, guys you are doing your thing and I'm so proud of y'all.
The Ambassadors get involved with different campaigns organised by the comission and they couldn't have chosen a more deserving bunch...these kids have clout in their respective fields. Not sure why Robbie Malinga is a "youth" ambassador though....not even his music is targeted at the youth!
I couldn't stay for the rest of Mr Mashatile's speech because I had a date to get to so even though I was told leaving in the middle of someone's speech was rude, well, surely it can't be rude if that speaker was late to begin with...???.. Late or not, I still think our Premier rocks and especially coz he doesn't wear red socks!
After I'd left the youngsters in attendance got an opportunity to interact with the VIP's during a Q & A session.
Pictured above are Local Government MEC, Qedani Mahlangu (she's the one with the wrong shoes) , Premier Paul Mashatile, MEC for Health Brian Hlongwa & Lebogang Mashile, Chair of the Gauteng Youth Commission, who's too cool for words....
I enjoyed listening to Lebogang and he doesn't sound half as volatile as our ANCYL pres.
Best buddies Shugasmaxx & Slikour were there....
Is it me or has Chomee cleaned up her look over the past few weeks?
Damn gal, keep it up coz I'm loving the ladylike look. It works.
Josta Dladla and Jimmy Tau are also ambassadors . Oh, and I'm really happy to see that Jimmy is back in the coach's good books.
As for Josta, welcome to Amakhosi boy but you DON"T look good in our kit! Next time please wear your correct size coz so far I've only seen you in oversized jersey....
Someone sent me an email asking if these two had really broken up....I didn't even know they were in a relationship, all I know is that they look great!
I also missed out on a perfomance by girl of the moment, Thandiswa Mazwai.
Truth be told, Khanyi takes good pictures man...
The Gauteng youth looking...umm...."youthful"...
Kwela Tebza with Mpho Maboi (YFM), Akhumzi & Musa (Yo-TV) & Hulisani (SABC 1)
Mzwandile, Andile & Brenda. I wonder uBrenda ebevela phi!
Tshidi Mholo, Sonia Motaung, KB & Khanyi dancing to Theo's sounds. And speaking of Theo.......
Theo my brother, what is it about you that makes me feel this way? I'm not talking about crushes or anything of that sort but there's something about Theo Kgosinkwe that screams "I'm a good guy and genuinely have a beautiful heart".
One of the best things I've done this year was to buy Theo's solo album, I AM. It is a must have for anyone who loves Afro Pop.
Amongst my favourites are Ndihambela Phezulu & Sohlala Sthandana, which is one of the most well written tracks around.
I absolutely LOVE the vocal arrangement on Track 6 Mafikizolo 4 Life. It has this beautiful feel to it, the piano guy rocks and the only sad thing about the song is the lyrics. I mean, how sad that arguably one of the best songs on the album is about how he will always be a Mafikizolo member? Why did he have to make a song about that? Like, have you ever heard Beyonce singing a "destiny's child 4 life" track?
I love the song though and I always sing along to it...it's BEAUTIFUL! The whole album is beautiful and if you don't have it, please support Theo and buy the album.
I've NEVER met Theo and just as TVSA's Beyonce would love to meet the real Beyonce Knowles, I wanna meet Theo so can someone please write a letter to Zola 7 to make it happen for me! lol.
I have to give a big thumbs up to the event organizers for the beautiful set up. Yes, it was a dinner but there were no dinner tables, forks, knives...the whole lounge setup appealed to me and I think it gave those who attended a chance to actually network & chat during the whole thing. Besides, black people don't sit around a dinner table, we have our plates on the lap or the coffee table, we sit, chat &/or watch TV during the dinner, that's how we do and it hasn't killed anyone yet.
So yeah, there was nothing pretentious about the setup, I loved it and so did everyone who was...more especially because the booze was flowing freely.
The hookup with the Premier came a night after his State of The Province address and it was described as an evening of exchange, network & reflecting on the future......I guess it did become exactly that, once things got started.
The invite said 17:30 for 18:00 and the MC was Unathi Nkayi. Mmmmh....Unathi is at Metro till 18:00, so that alone should have told me it would NOT start at the scheduled time. Of course that wasn't a major thing but guess what, the Premier we were meant to have dinner with arrived well after 20:00 and Lebogang Maile (Chairperson of GYC, pictured above) told us it was because he was doing an interview at YFM about his speech the day before. No comment!
My sidekick was a little pissed and rather peeved when he saw that Unathi was the MC but I comforted him ngokuthi we should be glad she was talking and not singing.....Seemed to work!