Stark reality amid celebrity at Afrika Tikkun fundraiser

OWN CORRESPONDENT

“Why does poverty still have a black face? It is precisely because of the choice of leaders we make,” Mohale said. “Ethical leadership is what we do when no-one is watching. We have lost our moral compass. We have lost our way because we have forgotten that sons learn from looking at the backs of their father’s heads. Africa needs more selfless leaders.”

In regard to land reform, Mohale said South Africa had an important opportunity to be the first country in the world to confront the issue in an orderly and constitutional way. “As business, we must support land reform, and take the subject out of the mouths of the populists.” There is a constitutional obligation on South Africa and on South African business to recognise past injustices with respect to land – and fix them – Mohale said. Land is central to the struggle of South Africa, going back as far as the Freedom Charter.

The evening’s guests included Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu; Advocate George Bizos; business executive Phuti Mahanyele; Asnath Mahapa, the first black female commercial pilot; Captain of Supersport United and Bafana player Dean Furman; celebrated designer Gert-Johan Coetzee; Loyisa Bala, Afrika Tikkun ambassador and performer on the evening; KK Fumba, Tutu Fellow and Financial and Risk Technologist; Yaseen Valli, talented young cricketer for bizhub Highveld Lions; child musical prodigy Danno Petersen; John Adams, a talented artist and supplier of a performance art piece for auction on the night; and former World Boxing Champion Thulani Sugarboy Malinga.

Several high-value items were auctioned off, including two lithographs of artwork by former President Nelson Mandela; three unique Gert-Johan Coetzee bowties; and jewellery. The final item for auction was an iconic Mandela portrait created live by John Adams.

The final words belonged to Afrika Tikkun Chief Executive Marc Lubner, who said, “A country never dies. It lives on forever. But the health of the country is vested in its youth. We have an incredible opportunity to unlock value in our township youth, and embrace them because of their potential.”