HOW BAD IS THIS? Guests show up late at communication minister's gala dinner event, grab goodie bags, order food, and leave.

I'm just back from the really exquisite gala dinner at Pigalle's in Cape Town that the minister of communications Roy Padayachie held after his budget speech today in parliament. He entertained government officials, the portfolio commitee of communications, the media, and national telecom and IT execs with a lavish evening of live entertainment including Lira singing and a terrific multi-course dinner.

Although the invite said 18:00 for 18:30, incredibly impolite guests kept arriving and sauntering in disgracefully until 22:00. Several people also arrogantly grabbed the goodie bags at arrival, meant to be given to them when they leave. Inside was, amongst other things, a free cellphone from 8ta as well as a sim card and free airtime. Of course some couldn't wait to pack out the contents of their goodbie bags in full on the crisp white linen of the 5 star restaurant closed for the evening's private function.

Suddenly half of the things (I won't call them people, people have manners) at my table 42 got up, took their goodie bags and left. Without saying goodbye or anything. And that's after they have arrived very late, and after they have put in orders for their main course and dessert - food that's being prepared and will be going to waste.

Of course these rude and arrogant women either knew they're getting cellphones through the grapevine, or just showed up anyway to see what loot they can get. If I knew their names, they would be named and shamed right here. Who does this? It's disgusting. They couldn't even call the waiter and say: ''We're leaving, can you please cancel the order?'' or ''Can we get our order in a doggie bag?''. And why even fake it all and order in the first place if you know you're going to leave after a short while? I had to tell the waiter, ''these people sitting here are no longer here and are not coming back.'' 'Shocked faces.]They left even before Lira, the headline act for the evening, sang one note. 

The arrogant gauche caviar elite in South Africa's communications industry and related fields who don't pay with their own money, dazzle from party to party to forage for food and gifts, and therefore think and behave like spoilt brats have very little manners. Sadly, they don't know how to behave, or do, and don't care. They appear to be in it for only what they can get (someone else at my table actually said ''always f- the system'' before he left to go and sit at another table where there's more wine). These arrogant new elite with access are shameless in their behaviour and not what South Africa or any country need (or should be about).

Next time I will get your names disgusting and abusive and exploitative trolls, and I will keep my eye on you.

Other interesting things from the evening:
The keeper at the door with the VIP attendance list didn't recognize Pippa Green, SABC board member and kept flicking, flicking through her list, but couldn't find her name. Pippa Green eventually got her table.
MultiChoice is donating 1 000 blankets (yay!) to the needy.
The SABC's acting group CEO Robin Nicholson also attended the lavish function. He'll now have an 8ta cellphone and number where the trade unions won't be able to reach him.
Azania Ndoro was a wonderful MC for the evening.
Roy Padayachie fell ill but still delivered his speech.