n Western Cape Premier Gerald Morkel will be next to his cellphone with the family at his official residence. He is one of seven in the provincial government put on standby just in case the Y2K bug causes havoc.
n Cape Town Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, a keen gardener, will spend the time in the gardens of his Bishops’ Court home.
n Cape Town mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo is balancing work and leisure, appearing at various parties the council is co- ordinating.
n Notoriously media-shy Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni was mum about his plans for New Year’s Eve. Wherever it is in Cape Town that he will be, he plans to keep his cellphone on. This will keep him in constant touch with the Y2K banking response centre set up at the Reserve Bank to deal with any technical glitches that may occur as a result of the millennium.
n The world’s longest-serving foreign minister, Pik Botha, said: “The new millennium only starts in a year’s time. But this New Year’s Eve I want to be alone with my wife listening to music. I just returned from New York where I had the privilege of attending what they call the millennium gala in Lincoln Centre where all the musicians played. I want a repeat performance so I’ll be listening to a tape of that. I hate champagne – it’s poison actually – but I’ll be drinking a lot of whisky. And of course lots of thoughts will flash through my mind. When you get to my age group, time is running short, so there’s a lot to think about.”
n Sipho Gavin, the lead member of the Eikenhof Three released in November: “I haven’t yet planned anything, but maybe that will change by the 20th of December or so.” His co-accused, Boy Ndweni, said: “Unfortunately, I will be spending it with my family. I don’t have anything else planned. But it will be special because it is the last of the millennium and because I haven’t spent New Year’s with my family in six years.” The third member of the trio, Siphiwe Bholo: “On that day I’m going to be with my family. I prefer to be at home because I missed a long time with them and need to make up for it. We’ll have a mini-party with some of the extended family.”
n Ernie Els, who won the Million Dollar golf challenge this month with a new tournament record, will be celebrating his first wedding anniversary this New Year’s Eve. He married his wife, Liezl Wehmeyer, at a Stellenbosch wine farm last year, and will spend the millennium at their house in Herolds Bay, near George.
n Springbok coach Nick Mallett will be celebrating with family and friends in Knysna.
n Hansie Cronje and the South African cricket team will be in Cape Town preparing for the fourth Test (which begins on January 2). They will be “doing their own thing” as individuals with their families.
n Patricia de Lille, the Pan Africanist Congress’s fiery chief whip, plans to spend the eve of the millennium with her family in Cape Town. She scoffed at suggestions that she would be sipping champagne with “high-brow” people on Robben Island, saying she would prefer to be “among the ordinary people”.
n Claudia Braude was startled at the Mail & Guardian’s suggestion that she was “a famous person”. Looking forward to being out of the spotlight, the anti-racism crusader said she has not made any plans for New Year’s Eve, but would be spending it “quietly”.
n Premier “Lies” Ndaweni Mahlangu of Mpumalanga says he will be spending a quiet time with his two wives, his children and grandchildren.
n General Bantu Holomisa: “The invitations are still coming in … no, I haven’t as yet received one to the party on Robben Island, but I will be in Cape Town on New Year’s Eve with some friends.”
n Monthle Magolego, president of South Africa’s biggest vigilante group, Mapogo a Matamaga: “I’m going to hide on New Year’s Eve. However, I don’t anticipate any crime occurring in my home area because wherever Mapogo is, there is peace. What is happening on New Year’s Eve?”
n Artist Steven Cohen: “I want to get away from technology before the start of the new year. I will be staying in a kraal in Swaziland and worshipping the Earth. I am Jewish so for me this is not the new millennium.”
n Felicia Mabuza-Suttle will be in Argentina with her family. They are planning something exciting.
n Evita Bezuidenhout will be hosting an all-night party at Evita se Perron in Darling. The intention is to cater to every whim of her guests and make it a millennium celebration they will never forget. Among the guests will be Pieter-Dirk Uys’s sister, Tessa Uys, the pianist, and the Perron’s performing cats.
n Cyril Ramaphosa: Will be having a not- exactly-small get-together at his home with family and friends.
n Johnny Clegg will be entertaining those who plan to attend the Durban Point and Port Festival.
n Roelf Meyer: “I will be on a game reserve in the Northern Province … with my family and friends.”
n Louis Luyt: The official word from the Federal Alliance is that Luyt will be “holidaying in Ballito with his family and friends. Nothing special.”
n Judge Willem Heath is just spending time at home with his family in East London.
n Snuki Zikalala: “I will be working at the SABC, co-ordinating the coverage [of New Year’s Eve celebrations] at Cape Town … no, I think I will be at the SABC head office in Johannesburg.”