Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - December 8, 2002
Shanthini Naidoo
Former President Mandela and Winfrey launched Mandela SOS at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town on Friday night, at a function attended by local and international celebrities.
Winfrey outbid former Gauteng premier Tokyo Sexwale, Diesel clothing president Renzo Rosso and US billionaire Michael Lee-Chin to take Mandela's sketches home to Chicago. The watercolours were scenes of and from Robben Island and Cape Town. The proceeds will go to the Nelson Mandela Foundation to fight HIV/Aids.
Winfrey, resplendent in a red corseted gown, has been in South Africa since November 30 and has made several appearances around the country.
"I'm loving it here. I'm doing a whole grand tour here, going into orphanages, giving out gifts to the kids. I have a foundation that specially selected gifts for the kids and I'll be doing that for the next two weeks," said Winfrey, who is in the country at the invitation of Mandela.
"I don't even know how to express in words what this trip to South Africa means to me. It has been a plethora of peak moments," she said.
A-list guests at the banquet included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, filmmaker Anant Singh and his wife, Vaneshree, Education Minister Kader Asmal, and former Miss South Africa Kerishnie Nai ker.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell was due to attend but cancelled at the eleventh hour, citing illness.
The gala dinner also gave guests a sneak preview of the Mandela SOS Aids benefit concert to be held on Robben Island on February 2.
The spectacular line-up includes U2, Eve, Busta Rhymes, Shaggy, Youssou N'Dour and Macy Gray.
Unconfirmed acts include Sting, Elton John, Michael and Janet Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.
"The concert will focus on the growing impact that Aids has on human life, not only in South Africa but throughout the world. We must never allow those who are infected and affected by Aids to become statistics," said Mandela.
"We overcame apartheid, we can overcome Aids," added Tutu.
Among the concert's sponsors is businessman Richard Branson, of Virgin fame, who expressed his support by video link.
Entertainers for the evening included satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys and musician David Kramer.
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