Celebs share their Christmas plans

Lillian Dube, actress

For the first time in a very long time I will be spending Christmas at my home in Windsor East, Johannesburg. Last year I was in London with my granddaughter, and usually we go to Mauritius because the grandchildren love it there so much. But I do love having Christmas at home.

On Christmas Day, we’ll go to church in the morning and then onto the cemetery so that I can lay flowers on my mother’s grave.

My friends will also be coming to my house. One is bringing the turkey, another the duck and I’ll be cooking biryani and mutton curry. I love Indian food, but because I’m diabetic there’ll be no tasting of it for me.

We’ll sing and be merry. I love Christmas carols. I have my Christmas tree up and fairy lights in the yard – it’s heaven. Also, on Christmas Day, like I do every year, I’ll wear a new dress either in white or happy colours, say in a floral print.

I’m going to have fun with my friends whom I don’t see during the year because we’re all busy working.

Loyiso Bala, R&B singer

I just got married two months ago, so this year both my wife’s family and mine, and whoever else can make it, are going to be spending Christmas at our home in Joburg.

On Christmas morning, we’ll go to church. There’s going to be good food, as my wife Jennifer and her family are great cooks. Our friends will also be bringing dishes so the table will be full. Hopefully later that day, we’ll also have a braai.

We’ll sing Christmas carols, and then chill outside.

We love getting gifts for people. After all it is the time to give and not to get. And it’s biblical, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son Jesus”.

Dunay Darren, model and wife of Afrikaans pop singer Kurt Darren

It will be our first Christmas as husband and wife – we married earlier this year – and we’ll be spending it in Cape Town.

Where we go each year – we’ve been together eight years – depends on Kurt’s shows and where he has been booked. This Christmas he also has shows in the Eastern Cape, so we’ll be going on a lot of road trips to do some sightseeing.

I like travelling and I’ve been overseas a lot, but I haven’t seen most of South Africa. Kurt likes to take me on these wild adventures.

Spending Christmas with him will be absolutely amazing.

Tamara Dey, Flash Republic singer

I’m usually on tour this time of year, all over the country. I’m based in Cape Town, but I will be playing gigs in Durban and Joburg. As much as the band is my extended family, spending the day at a restaurant has none of that authentic Christmas cheer.

This year it will be a real celebration. I will be in Joburg a few days before Christmas, my best friend is coming from London and both our families are joining us.

There will be lots of food, fun and games. We’ll have a few drinks, there’ll be music, and we’ll hang out. It’ll be a chilled day. Spending time with the people you love – that’s what Christmas is about.

When my grandparents were alive, the entire family spent Christmas with them in Tzaneen. We would sit around a long table and have a prawn braai. The kids would be running around the pool. On Christmas Eve, we’d be allowed to open one present. On Christmas Day, we’d open the rest of our gifts in pyjamas and have a big breakfast. We’d help prepare a massive lunch with all the trimmings including turkey and stuffing. That’s how I remember my childhood.

Hlubi Mboya, actress

At this time of the year, the ocean calls to me and I have to be near water. This year I’m going to be in Durban and Ballito on a private beach.

This season is always about family and friends, the people you care about you do lose touch with during the busy year. It’s a time to bond and to be grateful for them.

Food goes hand in hand with this celebration. There’ll be lots of comfort food like roast potatoes, stuffed chicken, roast vegetables, puddings and lots of braaing and alcohol. I won’t be watching my waistline.

It’s also great to spread the blessings of the season to those less fortunate than yourselves. Go to your neighbours and pack a lunch or gift, and give.

Khanyi Mbau, singer and socialite:

I never really go anywhere before Christmas. For us in the music industry, it’s a very busy time of the year when we make a lot of appearances. It’s also my daughter’s birthday on December 24, so I need to be in Joburg to celebrate it with her. She’s my only child and is turning five.

On Christmas Day, I’ll go down to Durban with my daughter. We usually have a get-together with family, friends and a few business partners. We’ll spend time on the beach on the South Coast.

I contribute to making people smile over the festive season by being more visible. It makes people happy my being there and that makes me feel good. I do enjoy this time of year because it’s fun and festive. I’ll be attending a lot of Christmas parties and big private dinners.

But I’ll be going away in January to really relax.

Rosie Motene, actress

I’ve completed my conversion to Judaism this year, so Hanukkah will be spent in Johannesburg with the congregation at Beit Emanuel.

But I still celebrate Christmas with my biological family. This year I will be going to Welkom where my niece and her hubby will be hosting us, my parents, her children, my niece, nephew and my sister.

New Year’s Eve will be spent with my life partner.

Kenny Kunene, businessman and television personality

I will be spending time with my kids and relatives in the Free State this Christmas.”

I will be picking up a lot of the children from my mother’s neighbourhood and taking them to my house to celebrate with us. We’re going to have cakes and delicacies. I want my kids not to look down on other children.

We’ll have a braai, there’ll be presents, and everybody’s going to be swimming. Later in the evening I will be joining David Kau in Kroonstad. He’s my homeboy and he’s going to be bringing some artists. And we’ll be celebrating and having a party. - The Star