Redd’s It Up at Randlords

As promised, I got up close and personal with haute new JHB venue Randlords. The place really is spectacular. I have no words. I hope they sort out their (rumoured) liquor licence issues because summer’s (almost) here and this has the potential to become my party venue of choice. Just saying.

And I know I promised pictures, but, as Murphy’s Law would have it, my camera’s batteries were completely dead. Insert sad face here.

Anyways.

The best part about Randlords is definitely the views. Tjerrr. You can see the CBD, the Northern ‘burbs and there’s a great aerial view of the Nelson Mandela Bridge. I eavesdropped on a conversation between people more important than poor old me and, apparently, the rest of the South Point Towers building is going to be redeveloped into apartments. Like my future home, Main Street Life.

Big city lights: view from Randlords

Last night wasn’t just about me getting a sneak peek at Randlords (duh!), it was also the official launch of the new image, branding and taste of Redd’s. The apple cider also unveiled its new brand ambassadors: radio and TV presenter Mpho Maboi and presenter and actor Lungile Radu.

Mpho and Lungile - the new faces of Redd's

The new tagline – replacing Phola – is Redd’s It Up, which the press release says is: ‘a fresher and more energetic call to action for men and women who enjoy socialising with friends whilst out on the town’.

Mpho and Lungsta will travel across SA to Redd’s It Up with DJs Lulo Café, Warras and Zinhle.

Lulo Cafe on the decks at the Redd's launch

DJ Warras

My girlcrush: DJ Zinhle brings the pretty

One of these parties will be in Cape Town this December and, at the launch, two lucky ladies won the chance to hop on a private jet with three of their BFF’s to live it up at a mansion in Fresnaye and the Fire & Ice Hotel. City Press journo (and one of my besties) Mokgadi Seabi and PR guru Farrah Fortune won the prize. See you in Cape Town, ladies!

Mpho, Lungile and lucky girl Mokgadi

Stay tuned to your wireless (yes, wireless) to hear more about the competition. Thanks for a fun night out, Redd’s!!

Pics supplied by TCF.

Bonang Matheba is a star, baby!

Bonang and some of her Baby Star creations

Last night, Bonang Matheba launched her sizzling website and range of arm candy (as she calls it), under the label ‘Baby Star’.

Kudos to this chick, for real! She’s doing phenomenal things at the tender age of 22. Her site is miles ahead of anything we’ve seen from other local schlebs. It’s clean, very well laid out and the images are tasteful.

She’s taking Brand B to another level altogether.

So many stars aren’t even trying to get on social media (journo Gabi Ndebele recently tweeted that when she asked Arthur Mafokate why he isn’t on Twitter, he asked ‘What’s that?’), yet Bonang is available on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and now her own beautiful site.

Some site highlights: you can read all about Ur Gal B’s achievements in TV, Radio, as a corporate MC and fashion. Fans are also encouraged to leave messages on the site’s message board. Lelo, over at Just Curious, suggested B start a monthly blog to give her fans a more personal touch and I completely agree.

Baby Star

But the best thing about the site is that this is where fashionistas can order their piece of B – a handbag from her BABY STAR range. The cute bags range from R700 – R1200. Bonang says she’s still looking for alternative distribution, but for now orders can be made through the site. She told me the bags are made in Cape Town (yay for supporting local manufacturers!) and they really are super cute.

This bag has my name on it!

The launch was a great success. Well done PR queen Melanie Ramjee! Bonang definitely was the hostess with the mostest, clad in a gorgeous Gert Johan creation (that’s what she’s rocking in the picture).

Although it was star studded, it was a relatively intimate affair (besides the ever present camera crews and paparazzo). Young Egoliwood definitely came out to support Ur Gal B. Spotted: DJ Euphonik and Sizwe Dhlomo on the decks, the Teargas boys, B’s Live co-hosts (past and present) Andile Ncube and Touch , DJ Switch, YFM family beautiful Mpho Maboi, The Twins and DJ Sbu (looking rather dapper), Siya Ngwekazi, Selimathunzi’s Zizo Beda (the sweetest girl ever), The Internet’s Head Bitch in Charge, Mika Stefano, Wimpy’s Cheesanator girl, Boity, The Fourways Twitter Mafia Dons Khaya Dlanga and Xolisa Dyeshana … too many to mention.

Great thing, though, it seems like everyone left their egos at home to celebrate B’s latest venture. People mingled easily and spoke a lot of crap – the free-flowing Moet & Chandon was a great social lubricant!

The venue, the recently opened MiBar, was amazing and most of the fun was had in the outside area (the weather played along for once). Nibbles and drinks by the hot Liquid Chefs bartenders just kept making the rounds (and trust, I was not complaining!)

Towards the end of the evening, things started getting silly when someone (errr, Sizwe) started a decorative balls fight … all in good fun. Those who don’t know when to call it a night went to grab pizza or do whatever party animals without day jobs do.

Well done to B for her stellar work and thanks Melanie Ramjee for a flawless function.

Bonang and Melanie Ramjee

Mpho Maboi

YFM’s Mpho Maboi came out to support B. This woman is flawless – I would cut a bitch to have her skin. She’s also just one of the nicest people I’ve met in Egoliwood. Unfortunately, she had to leave early because of some or other football game she could not miss.

Sizwe Dhlomo

Sizwe on the ones and twos. He’s not bad, as a DJ, if you’re into that whole neon-colours-amakipkip-wearing-teens-jumping-around-swag type of hip hop.

DJ Switch and DJ Sbu

Siyabonga Ngwekazi

Queen of the Internet, Mika Stefano

Mokgadi Seabi

Fab socialite and City Press journalist, Mokgadi Seabi, has a pose-off with B.

Me and Ingrid Pearce

Hanging out with Marie Claire’s fierce fashionista, Ingrid Pearce.

Khaya Dlanga and Xolisa Dyeshana

Fourways Twitter Mafia (no, that will never get old for me!) represented.

Xolisa Dyeshana and Zizo Beda

Twitterati weighs in on Jub Jub tragedy

Yesterday Jub Jub was involved in a tragic accident. Read about it HERE.

Search ‘Jub Jub’ on Twitter and you’ll see errbody going crazy. Here’s a select few:

Bonang Matheba [@Bonang]
He must go to jail…he must not pass begin, he must not collect R200!! Nxa!! #ithankyou

DJ Sbu [@djsbuonline]
Jub’s ma boy.It’s all sad&done.Moral of the story..Don’t do drugs. @kabelomabalane has been tryin all these years2tell y’all anilaleli!

Euphonik [@euphonik]
Extra extra, read all about it!! DRAG RACER BECOMES DRAG QUEEN #jailstories

Zwai Bala [@ZwaiBala]
Will Jubs survive jail? He didn’t survive Survivor.

Tshepo Mogale [@ComicalTshepo]
I don’t see anyone taking this years honours from him; a rotten penis, burnt house; now this #muntoftheyear

Sizwe Dhlomo [@SizweDhlomo]
I really don’t think we should rejoice over Jub Jub’s mess up! Especially because most of YOU guys also drink & drive plus do cocaine TOO!

Kojo Baffoe [@kojobaffoe]
So is this jub jub tragedy going to change how his peers live their lives? Yeah, I mean you. Youth rallying cry: it’ll never happen to me.

Mpho Maboi [@MphoMaboi]
Who drag races ko kasi?! What did you think the outcome of THAT was gonna be?! Condolensces to the families of the lost teens.

Motlokoe Phatudi-Mphahlele [@beatmakersa]
Condolences to the families that lost their kids! May God strengthen them! To Kelly may God give you strength to be strong during this time!

And a little positivity: Thabiso Khati [@HipHopScholar] is organising a benefit concert for the victims of the accident. Bassline has donated a venue. Provisional date: 9 April 2010. Bonang and Tshepo have already volunteered to MC the event.

Thabiso’s also tweeted: FOR EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP PLEASE E-MAIL; supportaccidentvictims2010@gmail.com