Eugene Nyati
Mr Dial-a-Quote bolted to the United Staes two years ago — after relieving Mpumalanga of R1,2-million for two months’ work — amid revelations that the Masters degree from the University of Pittsburgh in his CV was just one of several fabrications. His real name is Albert Nana and he was born in Zimbabwe, and not Newcastle, South Africa. He resurfaced a few months ago as co-owner of a speakers’ corner-like restaurant in Pretoria. Unfortunately the landlady evicted him a few weeks later because of unpaid rent.
Dan Moyane
Six months after Radio 702 scrapped the John and Dan show and Dan Moyane was unceremoniously dumped, John Robbie is back at the early morning slot, but not Moyane. Even Chris Gibbons, whose afternoon show was also canned in that major balls-up, is back for a few minutes each afternoon. Moyane has been pursued by the SABC but in terms of a restraint agreement cannot work at another commercial radio station for a year. For now he has turned his energies to marketing company Integrated Communications, where he is a director.
Ziba Jiyane
This former political science academic became so powerful as Inkatha Freedom Party secretary general that Mangosuthu Buthelezi reportedly pushed him to step down in July and to prevent future problems, the party stripped all political powers from the post.
Jiyane, who goes by the label “businessman” now, has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Oscar Dhlomo, who quit politics for business. He won’t discuss his involvement in several companies but says we should expect a big announcement at the end of January.
June Sinclair
Defeated by the late Sam Nolutshungu in the 1996 contest for the post of vice chancellor, Sinclair stepped down as deputy vice chancellor for student affairs at the end of that year. She currently holds the position of vice-rector at the University of Pretoria.
Matthews “MK” Malefane
At one time, Malefane dreamed of being South Africa’s first black television network owner, and in 1991 founded Broadcast Interest Group, a lobby group aimed at empowering black people in the media. Yet his Rainbow Television is not one of the seven bidders for South Africa’s first “free-to-air” private television licence. Instead, Malefane has formed Maluti Foods and Beverages and says he intends to be the first black wine and spirit producer.
Penny Heyns
What comes after a double gold and high-profile assault on swimming records at the Atlanta Olympics? An avalanche of sponsorship deals, inevitably. Unfortunately, award banquets and sponsor functions left too little time for swimming, and the once invincible Heyns did not make any impact at the Pan Pacific Championships in Japan, or the World Student Games in Sicily last August. Look out for the old Heyns at the Perth World Championships in January.
SABC board
Unlike the first board of 1993, which had the mammoth task of seeing through transformation at the public broadcaster, the second board has not generated much public interest. Could be that the departure of Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri has left a board that, while not as publicity-conscious as the present Free State premier, is concentrating on the somewhat mundane task of keeping the SABC afloat.
Rowan Cronje
Bophuthatswana’s former foreign minister, and close ally of Lucas Mangope, was found to have received at least R75 000 in cash from the homeland’s State Security Council. The Skweyiya Commission recommended that he be charged in criminal courts.
Mercy Phakela
One of the bubblegum-music wonders of the 1980s, responsible for the gem expression: “ayatshis’ amateki” — “the shoes are too tight” for really sticky situations — has virtually disappeared from the music scene. Nothing has come of her promises of a comeback. Last seen at a Rosebank, Johannesburg, bar with a weave that had seen better days.
The SA lottery
Five years since the idea was first mooted, the big saviour for the government’s financial woes is still in the hangar. It may only take off late in 1998. Some suspect the horse-racing industry, which has the most to lose, is behind the delays.The leading bidders for the contract to operate the lottery on behalf of the government include the South African Postal Service and Games Africa.
Doreen Morris
She has sold the Miss Universe SA and Miss South Africa pageants. Morris, who gradually disappeared off the M-Net screens, has shown very little interest in her beauty competitions this year. Perhaps now she feels sufficiently unencumbered to join her fiance, Kingsley Makhubela, South Africa’s ambassador to Portugal.
QKumba Zoo
After a dizzying rise to the top of America’s Billboard 100 Dance Chart, South Africa’s most successful musical export of 1997 have, on their return to the country, faded into relative obscurity, drawing just a handful of people at their gigs. One has to wonder what happened to the multi-million-rand hype that marked their ascent. They have, however, retained some public profile, notably on SABC-TV, where they can be seen endorsing the broadcaster’s new logo.
Dennis Davis
The advocate and television star has moved to Britain on sabbatical and is writing a book. He was recently in town for a case, and recorded five episodes of Future Imperfect. In February 1996 Human Rights Commission chair Barney Pityana called Davis a racist for criticising some appointments to the commission.
Mark Behr
The award-winning author of The Smell of Apples has not stuck around to deal with the fallout from revelations that he was a police informer while a student leader during his years at Stellenbosch University. Today he’s teaching at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA. He will be back in 1998 when Britain’s Channel 4 will be working on a film version of his novel.