More and more tourists discover South Africa for their holidays and this includes a stop in Cape Town, an absolute must, so they say. An additional advantage for them is that the can spend their euros and dollars approximately three times, and doing so, fully enjoy the pleasures that the city and its surroundings offer.
However, the greater part of the local population has to look three times at one"s money. On the Cape Flats you find one of the largest slums on the African continent, where an estimated 1,2 million people live for the greater part in miserable conditions.
But there are also other Capetonians: fortune brightly smiles upon them. They live, among others, in Camps Bay, one of the most expensive districts of Cape Town. Villas have been constructed on the mountain slope of the Twelve Apostles, commanding a view of the palm-trees, the white beaches and the wave uprush of the Atlantic Ocean. At the foot a boulevard separates the beach from a variety of restaurants and pubs.
Day is done now and people move from work towards the beach to have a drink. Cars go snail-slow over the asphalt, looking for a place to park. Audis TT and Porsches seem to compete for slow driving. All that matters now is to watch and be seen: so the roofs of the convertibles are opened wide and sound blasters are turned on.
Private plane
Café Caprice is famous for its posh visitors. At the bar 23-years old Cloë takes a breather after a hectic day at the office. For some time now she is running her own events organising agency. "It did not appeal to me at all to work for a boss", she says. "I have seen too much of the world already. My dad is in the business world and when I was a child I lived in many places. You cannot imagine how my childhood looked like. I have partied with princes and dukes. When you have grown up like that you become a leader and you are not going to work for somebody else."
Modest Cloë organises parties and events for the moneyed Capetonians and this comes very easy to her. "Money is no object. Life is beautiful here when you are young and rich. When you have some money, everybody wants to be your friend. I am a regular on the vip-visitors" lists of the clubs and I have a Range Rover with driver. I do not have my driving licence yet, so I have myself driven about."
As far as transport is concerned Paul (47) can make a selection. He owns three cars, including a Mercedes and a Toyota Landcruiser and three small planes. The Piper 1958 is his biggest pride. "And on Sundays my friends always pick me up in a helicopter. Then we fly to the small town of Franschoek to have lunch in the middle of the vineyards."
Paul has old money from former Rhodesia - Zimbabwe now – where his family hails from. He is a fulltime trustee of the money of other rich persons. "In Camps Bay it is important to show off your richness. In former days I used to drive in my sports car on the boulevard.Today other things are more important." He casts a loving glance at his little daughter and smiles: "I am a family man now."
Models
Like many others in this metropolis Cloë and Paul enjoy life thoroughly. Since the abolition of apartheid more and more things are beginning to move. Amongst others it is caused by the growing stream of tourists and a flourishing advertising-, and film industry. Low production cost, a large variety of locations and most of the year good wheater, have made the city attractive for tv-adds, movies and fashion shows.
Because of this prosperous industry the model agencies too have sprung up like mushrooms. In Cape Town you bump into young people with perfect looks. It is cool and trendy all over. They come from all over the world and land in Cape Town during the South African summer, looking for a job.
Model Kathy just did a photo-shoot for Martini, she tells me on the balcony of the Ignite, the other hip pub of Camps Bay. She sips at her sparkling white wine with a floating fresh strawberry in it. She is 38 years of age and clearly more mature than the many super slim models that often are not much older than 16 years or so. And her age is much in demand. "Elder ladies are making the most money now", she smiles. "In particular in the advertising business good looking ladies in their thirties are in great request. Series like Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives have changed the perception of 'elder" women. They are sexy and self-assured."
Braggarts
Kathy glances at the water. "I have a good life here", she explains and sighs. "I can travel a lot and often go out to dinner. Moreover, the atmosphere in Cape Town is very relaxed. Sometimes they say it is because of the Table Mountain. It is so big and mighty that you are put back on your feet again every time you look at it. Besides, the pressure of work is much lower than for instance in Johannesburg. The big companies are located there and people work in shifts 24 hours per day. Over here we prefer to go to the beach at about five o"clock."
In the meantime people from Johannesburg have discovered the pleasures and delights of Cape Town. More and more people from 'Jozy" buy a villa in Camps Bay or in one of the adjacent quarters to spend their holidays. "Quite a few of the braggarts that you see throwing away their money in the holiday season are from Johannesburg," Kathy says.
Personally she manages her money more carefully. "I prefer to lay by a certain sum, for in winter it is more difficult to find a job, especially when you are looking for a permanent appointment. Positive discrimination has not made things easier for a white person like me. That"s why I work as a freelance interior designer for hotels now. In spite of the fact that it makes my life more difficult, I agree with the policy. We have to rectify the past. And as long as I can have my drink and have dinner on Sundays at one of the wine farms in the area, you won"t hear me complaining."
And 25-years old Vuyo, who attracts attention amongst all whites in the Ignite, agrees with what Kathy told us. "Surely there are many possibilities now in South Africa when you are black", she explains. "But I am happy with my background too: I went to a white private school and my parents are in business. On these conditions it is of course much easier to go far in the world than when you are born in Cape Flats. I should like to do something in the oil- or diamond industry when I have finished
my course IT & Economics. I want to start young there and therefore I work now for BP already as a project manager."
"I have only one credit card though," she says with a laugh. "All things go by comparison, you see. I know many young people that have two or three cards."
And on what does the Cape youth spend its money? "On shopping at Gucci"s at The Waterfront, on having sushi in the Tank restaurant, on cars, houses and going out, going out a lot", Vuyo enumerates. And club Hemisphere is her favourite.
Vip-aquarium
When the sun goes down in the ocean in thousands of marvellous colours and the night is falling over the city, it is time to go to the Hemisphere. You find the trendy club at the corner of Adderly and Riebeeck streets, named after the Dutchman that founded the Cape Colony. A golden elevator brings you upwards to the 30th floor of the ABSA bank building.
From the moment you step out of the elevator on the high piles carpet, the selection starts. When you are beautiful, young and rich enough, you are admitted into the glass aquarium on the left hand side, meant for vips only. If not, you have to join the 'common" people on the dance floor to the right. The imprint given to you by the 'door bitch" at the entrance, decides for or against.
And 27-years old Duncan went well through the trial. He lies slumped in his leather arm-chair, his pastel shaded shirt half open. A bottle of Moët champagne under his nose. "I am one of the regulars here and I always drink champagne," he says. "It is very important to have your own special style and to stick to it. People expect you to do so. That"s why I like to visit this place. Here they offer valet parking in the American way; somebody takes care of my car on arrival, so I don"t have to look for a parking space myself."
The South African, who has a good position at Serenity Cosmetics, does not seem to have problems with the stylised Cape scene to which he exposes himself. "When you have money specific standards are becoming more and more important. You have to show what you have. But this does not mean that I cannot enjoy the things in Cape Town that are completely free of charge: the impressive mountains, the ocean and the beaches and the fine warm weather. In that sense every Capetonian is rich, his bank account not taken into consideration."
This article was also published in our Dutch edition. Translation: Bert Snaphaan - Buro Q.S.V.
Copyright: Elles van Gelder/Tom van der Leij
Sun-bathing on the most beautiful beaches, drinking Moët champagne at parties and having the disposal of a Range Rover with private driver. Cape Town is a valhalla for young, trendy and beautiful South Africa that has tons of money.
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