This is the time where everyone who is still in the office gets irritated because e-mails communication comes back with an automatical seasonal greetings.
By this time, the receiver or the person whom the message is meant for is either on holiday or if you are a journalist in the newsroom your e-mail will be read next year and by then, the story will be long over.
When I worked in the coast.
I used to love this time of the season, I never took leave in December No!
Not me, I was out there, writing about girls wearing bekinis at Kings Beach, fun things to do at Hobbie Beach or that exciting opening of the Summer season at Summerstrand Beach.
I love December and all the fun stuff that comes with the festive season.
Hence, when I received an invitation to attend King of Gomara's birthday party I really didn't hesitate.
The old man, the God father of many and government of the oldest township in South Africa was on another level this year.
This whole past weekend was his weekend and as always, he had everyone.
I mean the smallest child in Alexandra Township to the his age mates feel that ekse, die groot maan is baie groot.
This year, his day kicked off at his centre, the Phuthaditjhaba Care of the Aged at 17th Avenue Alexandra.
This is where, he has displayed and documented all his work through out the decades. Earning a recognition by the Sowetan, Old Mutual and SABC ONE as the community builder of the decade.
Through working with a local church, God Never Fails(GNF) headed by Bishop Nhlanhla David Nhlapo.
He has flown the grannies from the township to a four day stay in Cape Town where they also visited the famous Robben Island. While the primary school kids had their first experience of riding a helicopter.
An experience that was made possible by the church in partnership with the old man. Not to mention the houses build for the poor in the past 22 years GNF had been in the area working with Bab'Linda.
So this past weekend, he pulled all the stops
Toyota SA was amongst the sponsors who came to donate goodies so that Bab'Linda who was now the father Christmas can distribute to the kids of the township.
For the three days, the grannies travelling from all corners of the township also recieved their food packs
Together with Mc Donald
donated soccer balls and party packs for the kids.
Both the pre- event and the main event were MCed by Alex FM and South African Traditional Music Achievements Awards (SATMA) nomineem Musa Mabika.
But the draw card was the East London cheifs, chief Salakuphatwa and wife Xolelwa, Chief Mtoto and Nobahle as well as Chief Mshweshwe who came in their traditinal regalia to celebrate with the man.
I remember when he invited my son and I to his party three years ago, I was surprised and shocked that at his age, 78 years he was still active and helping out with the grannies food distribution.
According to him, her mother inspired him to start this after the burial of a local Gogo, Mashabalala in 1967.
There is no way of telling an Alexandra Township story without roping or mentioning this man.
Over the decades, the township has produced some of the finest who are served or serving the country on national level.
Umbhaqanga king, Mahlathini and the Mahotela Queens had their taste of fame in this township.
I remember back when I was a kid, Brenda Fassie and the Soul Brothers were said to be amongst the people who came to perform in Kwa Nobuhle Hostel and made it big then.
Bab'Twala himself has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Operah Winfrey,Bill Clinton, King Zwelithini, Queen Elizabeth to mention just a few.
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