NELSON MANDELA - A heart of gold with a lack of foresight

(Me in the background making my way from the canteen after meeting with the Mandela entourage)

Those of you out there who know me on a personal level will acknowledge that I am not a person who likes hanging out or partying in clubs or going to shopping centres unnecessarily. I prefer spending quality time with family and friends over a cup of coffee or a formal lunch or dinner. Yesterday I had a really fulfilling day visiting the ill at a hospital located close to my home. My family and I enjoyed ourselves being in the company of a 92 year old gentleman who has absolutely no real sickness with the exception of old age. It was the first time in his life that he was admitted to hospital for dehydration. It was fascinating listening to his childhood stories and stories of his youth. His eyes lit up as he related to us stories about his acquaintances with Nelson Mandela decades ago. His speech was filled with words of wisdom and advice. Someone once told me that you are definitely South African if you know someone or has a family member who was associated with the international iconic figure. Fifteen years ago Nelson Mandela was admitted at the hospital I worked for in Riyadh. He was a guest of the Saudi government. My colleague brother Ahmed who has been at the hospital for the last 25 years told me his experience when he met Mandela for the first time. He was walking alone in the hospital gardens with no security or anyone at his side. Brother Ahmed went up to him and greeted him. Mandela enquired about his roots and his occupation in the hospital. During their conversation a group of Saudi men came up to greet Mr. Mandela and told him that for a man of such stature it is not wise for him to walk alone without being accompanied by a security guard. Brother Ahmed said that he will never ever forget Mandela's facial expression as he replied to the gentlemen saying: "My name is Mandela. I am a man of peace. Only a man who has enemies will be afraid to walk alone." The Saudi gentleman were taken aback with his words of wisdom. Various other staff told me about Mandela's simplicity and humble nature. He instructed staff in the VIP ward to allow anyone to meet him. Expatriates from various African countries residing in the Kingdom made their way to the hospital to meet and spend some time with their hero. I was fortunate to have met Mandela myself on a few occasions during his medical check ups at Milpark hospital in Johannesburg. On many occasions he arrived at the hospital unannounced without any prior arrangements. The general public sitting in the foyer would be surprised and flabbergasted as he made his way through the main entrance. There were times when both adults and children would approach him to take pictures with them. Despite his ill health and old age he would never refuse but rather he would oblige with a smile.No doubt he has a heart of gold. I always thought of Mandela as being a man of vision and foresight and yet there are times when I feel that if a man loved his country immensely he would have protected the citizens of his country by keeping the death penalty and also implementing stricter border control measures when he became president. Perhaps if Madiba was released from prison earlier at a younger age, the South Africa we have today which is riddled with crime, murders, rape, hijackings, lawlessness, police brutality and corruption could have been a country he envisaged, a country of hope, freedom, peace and prosperity for one and all.

The Celebrity Event Planner- Aadil Saith

Aadil Saith may be small built tiny man, but don’t let that fool you. Dynamite sure does come in small packages.He’s got drive, ambition, (a compassionate heart) and serious systematizing skills—which we all covet. After studying graphics designing, he decided to use his skills and creativity to start his own event planning company—Unusual Functions located in Johannesburg, South Africa.Many people talk about dreams but only a few take action and he is one of them. To be an event planner, you need to get nitty-gritty with the details and need more than organizational and time management skills. What’s required: an eye for creativity, negotiation and interpersonal skills, tact, multitasking abilities, and the ability to stay calm under stress and pressure without pulling your hair out. With a few years under his belt and staff members to assist him, Aadil Saith is ready to take his company to the next level. Read on to find out more in his own words.

Nationality:SOUTH AFRICAN

Education/background:COMPLETED MATRIC

GRAPHICS DESIGNER/ 2 YRS INTERIOR DESIGNING AT WITS TECHNIKON

Drink I always order at Starbucks:ICE TEA OR TEA

1. Firstly thank you for agreeing to be interviewed despite your hectic lifestyle.You can be considered a young entrepreneur in your country after establishing quite a successful business, Unusual Functions.Can you tell Desert Pill Pusher readers how did it all start out for you?

IT STARTED AT THE AGE OF 18 WITH R500 IN MY ACCOUNT... DOING A FEW FRIENDS WEDDINGS AND BEING DRIVEN BY AMBITION TO PERSEVERE IN MY TALENT OF CREATIVENESS I CAN GLADLY SAY IT HAS BROUGHT GREAT SUCCESS TO ME AND MY FAMILY, BRANCHING OFF INTO MANY OTHER BUSINESS VENTURES.I MUST SAY I ENJOY WHAT I DO...

2. How do you find and get clients?

IN THE BEGINNING LIKE ANY GROWING BUSINESS IT WAS HARD TO FIND MY FEET, MY CREATIVITY AND TALENT SHOWED IN THE WORK I DID... SO CLIENTS CAME LOOKING FOR ME...

3. Is this your full-time job or do you have other businesses as well? Please elaborate

IT IS A FULL TIME JOB, I SPECIALISE IN SERVICING 20 OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS 5 STAR VENUES IN AND AROUND JHB, TRAVELLING TO DURBAN AND CAPE TOWN AS WELL AS NEIGHBOURING BOTSWANA AND SWAZILAND, I HAVE A TRADE BUSSINESS IN JOHANNESBURG (JHB) CALLED UNUSUAL DECO SPECIALIZING IN WEDDING DECOR PLANNING. I HAVE MY OWN VENUE IN JHB TOO SPECIALISING IN EVENTS ONLY...

4. What are the hardest challenges you face in running your own business?

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY, AND OBVIOUSLY MEETING MY COMMITMENTS

5. Do you feel like you’re balancing your work and personal life pretty well?

MY WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE HAS BEEN INCORPORATED AS ONE, TIME OUT IS REQUIRED ... THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL REQUIRES IT

6. If you were not an event planner, what would you be doing?

I THINK I WOULD BE IN A SERVICE BUSINESS HELPING COMMUNITY UPLIFTMENT...

7. What topics and subjects are you the most passionate about?

DECOR, FASHION, STYLE, TRAVEL

8. What makes you the most happy? (Work or personal)

SEEING OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY MAKES ME EXTREMELY HAPPY...

9. Where do you and your friends like to hang out or do in your spare time? Any favorite food spots in or around Johannesburg

I LIKE TO SEE NEW THINGS SO IM ALWAYS HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE

10. If someone could grant you a wish and you could choose to have any skill or talent in the world, what would it be?

SINGING

11. What are your favorite websites?

PRESTON BAILEYS SITE

WEDDING DECOR IDEAS

12. Who or what inspires you?

MY PARENTS FOR THE HARD WORK I SEE THEM DO

13. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? YES

14. What’s your best event planning tip for Desert Moon's Diary readers, whether they’re planning a wedding or even something as small as a birthday?

YOUR FIRST CHIOCE IS THE RIGHT CHOICE

15. What was your most memorable event you and your team coordinated for?

NELSON MANDELA'S BIRTHDAY

16. What advise would you give to young entrepreneurs out there who would also like to start off their own business?

HARD HONEST WORK PAYS OFF... YOUR DREAMS CAN COME TRUE. BELIEVE IN YOUR TALENTS ...

17. Are there any additional comments you’d like to add for the blog readers?

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INTERVIEWED ON YOUR BLOG. IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

Once again,thank you Aadil Saith for taking the time to answer these questions. Desert moon wishes you all the best in your future endeavours!!!I would also like to add that the pictures below are courtesy of Unusual Functions and depicts some of Aadil's best work to date..

If you wish to have an event planned by Aadil Saith, you may contact him or any of his managers at the following telephone numbers..

Aadil Saith    -    0027 (0) 827355559

Fareed Saith -    0027 (0) 763282571

Ismail Saith   -    0027 (0) 825034600