If the election of ANC chairman Senzo Mchunu as KwaZulu-Natal’s new premier was a foregone conclusion, then there was a whole lot less certainty among guests about what to wear to the inauguration.
Some politicians put their best foot forward in the fashion stakes, while others simply put their foot in it, opting for loud and faintly ludicrous combinations that would not have been out of place on July race day.
And, just like the horse race, the election process was not without its drama.
Opposition parties opposed the nomination of Mchunu, which got many boos and “aikhonas” from ANC members in the KZN legislature.
But they should have saved some of their disapproval for their colleagues’ tailors
Now it might not have been the opening of the national Parliament, but more effort could have been made; a memo should have been sent out, some kind of dress code for the day established.
Brightly coloured suits were an unfortunate trend among the more adventurous men on Thursday, but, mercifully, wiser counsel prevailed with some.
These included Mchunu, Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo and Transport MEC Willies Mchunu, who stayed clear of the neon colours and donned simple black suits.
The official inauguration took place at Dales Park, in a white tent that, once you entered, felt like a sauna.
The interior was decorated with white and gold sheets that certainly looked better than some of the outfits.
Nonzwakazi Swartbooi, chairwoman of the co-operative governance and traditional affairs portfolio committee, wore a traditional Zulu dress in striking purple and gold.
When asked who designed it, she said, “Oh, no, I got this from a normal shop,” before walking away.
Deebo Mzobe, businessman and cousin of President Jacob Zuma, wore shoes that could have passed for disco balls, with a matching silver suit that also sparkled.
An ANC MPL showed off her Louis Vuitton bag, while Finance MEC Ina Cronje got it right in a classic and very elegant dark turquoise suit.
The sun scorched and the temperature reached a high of 27 degrees, but that did not stop ladies from wearing cotton stockings and shawls.
Entertainment was provided by a group of tenors known as Old Time Religion who performed the premier’s favourite songs and who also said, “God Bless you, Mr President,” once they were done.