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Guests paid between R100k to R1.5m for night with Zuma

Johannesburg - South Africa’s elite forked out anything between R100 000 to R1.5m just for dinner with President Jacob Zuma on the eve of the National General Council.

A reliable source who asked not to be named said guests were willing to dig deep just to rub shoulders with number one.  

South Africa’s upper echelon including ministers, mayors and the business fraternity, came out in their numbers to spend a night with Zuma and his fourth wife, Bongi Ngema-Zuma at Gallagher Convention Centre on Thursday.

Before entering the dimly lit hall, guests went through a tight security checkpoint before being ushered to their seats.

Businessman Patrice Motsepe and Romeo Kumalo were seen rubbing shoulders with some of the guests. News24 spotted Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile, wearing a purple knee-length cocktail dress.

Businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo chaired the programme introducing both ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize and Zuma on stage.

Mkhize thanked the business fraternity for supporting the ANC while Zuma joked about the low lighting saying people didn’t want to be seen.

The menu included a starter of salmon mouse, grilled prawns in a citrus jelly with a dill and wholegrain mustard foam.

The main course included a grilled fillet of beef with panino chutney, served with butternut, bringal and baby marrow tower and potato galette.

And for dessert guests were served coconut crème brulee with a cracked sugar crust, dusted with coco and garnished with marinated seasonal berries.

Guests started making their way home at around 23:00.

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