Pretoria in plain sight for Palm Springs socialite

NICOLA MILTZ

At the time of going to press on Wednesday, the immaculate Marks was preparing to go before a United States senate committee hearing for the ambassadorial nomination to South Africa. The hearing forms part of the lengthy and necessary procedures for nomination.

US embassy spokesperson Robert Mearkle told the SA Jewish Report, “We can confirm that Lana Marks, the White House’s nominee for ambassador to South Africa, is scheduled to have her confirmation hearing in front of the US senate’s foreign relations committee today in Washington.”

It’s unclear what the hearing entails, or what takes place thereafter, but it’s one of the first steps in the confirmation process. The relevant committee would then be required to send the nomination to the full senate, which would then finally vote on the nomination.

Marks, a known socialite in Palm Springs, Florida, and the owner of Lana Marks Collections, is reportedly a close friend of US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania. Earlier this year, she was officially re-nominated by Trump to be ambassador to South Africa. This is a formality that occurs when a new congress begins, and all nominations that have not been acted upon have to be resubmitted. Marks has spent the past few months preparing for her senate confirmation hearing.

Trump’s nominee was born and raised in East London, and has little if any experience in diplomacy. She was originally nominated for the position on 14 November last year.

If confirmed by the senate, Marks will join a long list of distinguished Americans who have served in this important position. The US has not had an ambassador in South Africa since Patrick Gaspard vacated his post in December 2016, with its mission being overseen by a chargé d’affaires.

Though Marks left South Africa about 40 years ago, she claims to be fluent in Xhosa and Afrikaans.

She is best known for her company, Lana Marks Collections, which produces five and six-figure exotic leather handbags, worn by red-carpet celebrities like Benoni-born Charlize Theron, and for her friendship with the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Though the confirmation process for individual nominations typically follows a number of steps, the majority of presidential appointments are approved.

If Mark’s appearance goes well, it will be just a matter of time before she has the coveted position in the bag.