Wasteful lifestyles of billionaires

"When a billionaire says 'I do...'" - ST: 21/3/2010-p.g 3

There must be a law against wasteful lifestyles of rich people. ST reports that Robert Gumede's wedding this past weekend costs him around R50 million. The things I would do with R50 million. For example, in the news last week there was a feature about a young girl from Cape Town who was turned away from Groote Schuur Hospital due to a shortage of dialyisis machines...apparently to die waiting! Shocking! The news anchor made a subtle appeal to the public when she reported that the a dialyisis session would cost around R1000. I remember asking myself, "how much do i have in the bank?". Well, that's who I am. I am helper. I always try to change people's lives no matter how insignificant the change and I pride myself of that. I think that is the real measure of ubuntu.

It is reported that it took 1 year to plan this apparently spectacular wedding and that nothing was left unturned. I have nothing against people spending the money they work hard for, but come on...R50 million rand for two days! The wedding festivities were attended by 2500 local and international whos who. This crowd was treated to the best of everything...at a cost of R50 million. It's mazing how far people can go to prove a point. I am sure you wouldn't even have to look further than the bride's and the groom's family to find a real need. I am positive that there are people in the bride's and groom's famaliy who are in desperate need of help. But, unfortunately, they are not worth R50 million a thought.

I see need wherever I go...children in desperate need of proper food, schools in need of books and upgrades, NGOs in need of financial bailouts, etc. No, that is not good enough to convinve Gumede to spend some of his hard earned millions to meet some of those needs. Just imagine for a second what you would do with R50 million. He could have started a foundation with that money. The first of its kind in the country by a black man. I am reminded of a sermon I heard from Bishop T.D. Jakes titled, "Creative Concepts", where he preaches about using common sense to create solutions to solve problems and needs. He started the Porter's House Ministry in this way, and today his ministry serves thousands of people and makes a real and lasting change to people's lives. I don't care what they say about pastors such as T.D. Jakes. I know one thing about these men, they have the interests of the downtrodden in mind. Bill Gates, the US billionaire, commitss more billions than anyone else in meeting the needs of the people. Oprah does the same, so as Richard Branson. These and many more seem to understand the purpose of prosperity. I only wish that when people emulate their charecters they would also take some of their compassion.

Given, Gumede worked for his money and he deserves to enjoy every cent of it. At the same time though I would argue that within the context of the history of our society, Gumede not only owes himself the duty to improve his quality of life but that of the general black society as well. It is becasue of the general men in the street that this country has produced leading black businessmen like Gumede. It is the masses that fought during the struggle and caused the ANC led liberation movement to attain the power to govern South Africa. It is this same movement that created BBBEE to empower the black majority. It is under these policies that men like Gumede secured access to the economy and participated under the guise of BBBEE and ultimately amassed the astonishing personal wealth they have today. One would think that these men would committ real and significant resources towards uplifting societies as it was done during the struggle years. For example, we all know of the community centres that Steve Biko and Dr Ramphele set up to serve their communities. Back then, the struggle was indeed for the people! Today, the struggle is waged at the expense of the massess only to benefit a few and have them show off their wealth to the whole country.

No matter how hard Gumede worked for his wealth, no matter how much he deserves to enjoy the fruits of his work, I am conviced that to a certain extent he owes a great deal to the massess, without whom democracy would be impossible, and of course his economic participation too. Hell, Gumede can spend R5o million for his wedding if he wants to, but would it not be more meaningful to spend that much towards resources to empower the majority? The whos who of South Africa was treated to the best of all things. To think that one of them would not be moved to advise Gumede to make a real commitment to true black empowerment.

Can you imagine a R50 million investment in a foundation to benefit kids who suffer from kidney diseases? Wow, that would have been a wonderful investment. Instead, 2500 people were treated to a menu containing words I can't even pronounce, a wedding dress made out of imported fabric...my God the arrogance of the rich at the expense of the poor! Spending R5o milion rand for a two day wedding indicates the level to which our society has sunk. Amid all these needs that we face, how can a reasonable man with a true moral code spend R50 million for two days? Unbelievable! It is a spit on the face of the poor. It is despicablee and unkind in all respects. I am pretty sure one could have a fabulous wedding for R500 000 or even a R1 million..R50 million! Tjo!

Gumede's wedding bill is a total waste of money and I cannot find any reasonable explanation for this sordid behavior and blatent arrogance. I mean how far can the bride's taste go? Tomorrow, both the bride and groom together with the 2500 rich friends will return to their ordinary lives...where their maids are mistreated, paid peanuts and their labour rights breached...their garden boys sleeping in the garage...and their distant families left to die in poverty! What has happened to communitism and ubuntu? Wasteful lifestyles must be halted, especially in the midst of the challenegs the majority of our people go through. Wasteful lifestlyes must be a crime. I cannot help but wish that this marriage be followed by a divorce so as to show how trivial and senseless these decisions are. But then again, I must be careful to wish for that. If a wedding costs R50 million, how much will the divorce cost? One thing for sure though, when the divorce comes, the 2500 friends will be nowhere to be found. If there is a God and Justice belongs to Him, then I demand justice on behalf of the poor.

Men like Tokyo Sexwala, Cyril Ramapho, Patrice Motsepe and others not mentioned here must pull these wasteful characters aside and teach them what it means to be a true billionaire.

Anyway, I hope the marriage lasts...lol.

mysundaytimes