Mkhwanazi steals the spotlight at Durban Chamber gala

They swooned, jostled and made a beeline to snap a photograph with him. Phones were in the air, clicking away, like they didn’t care.

Excited shouts of “General, my general” rang through the air as the well-heeled gathered around him. That’s the unprecedented celebrity status of KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Attending the Durban Chamber’s annual gala dinner, Mkhwanazi took the attention in his stride, cool as a cucumber. It was a sight to marvel at as he smiled and embraced those reaching out — a hug, a slap on the shoulder, a fist bump, a congratulatory handshake.

Each time he made his way to sit down for his meal, another plea, another request for a photo interrupted him. Those in attendance included MECs, politicians, captains of industry, the well-connected and, of course, the wealthy. But their presence didn’t seem to matter. The wow factor was Mkhwanazi. Everyone wanted a piece of him.

And, as he spotted me, he whispered, “Are you writing tonight?” I laughed and said I was observing the attention around him. But then I had to ask him: “You’re going back to the commission? You’re OK with that?”

I was referring to his recall by the commission to explain his retraction of earlier claims that former police minister Bheki Cele had sent bank details to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Madlala for money to be paid into it.

Nonchalant, Mkhwanazi replied: “Yes, I’m going back. I’m fine with that. I can go anywhere, anytime.”

Beyond the Mkhwanazi frenzy, the message from Durban business and Chamber CEO Palesa Phili was clear: Durban was rising — and renewal was in the air.

“Durban is ready to revive, reform and reinvent itself. As business confidence grows, we want to appeal to all players within government to join us in protecting our local manufacturing industry against cheap imports and counterfeit goods. This is starting to hit the textile and paper industries, with KZN companies like Mondi and Sappi being affected. We must do more to save our local jobs,” said Phili.

The Chamber marked 169 years of its existence and holds the distinction of being the oldest and largest metropolitan chamber in Africa.

IOL News