The fifth Consular Ball was a great success yet again. This year the black-tie event was held on 22 October in the glamorous stately Ballroom at the Kelvin Grove Club in Newlands, and the theme was all about having fun. It was attended by 280 guests, consisting of ambassadors, consuls general and honorary consuls from a record-breaking 25 countries. The mayor’s office, Independent Newspapers and the local business community also supported the stellar event.

This year the Corps raised a solid amount of R700 000. The local charities that benefited are the The Durbanville Orphanage – the second oldest orphanage in SA; the Independent Newspapers Bursary Fund for underprivileged young people, Proud Partners – a NGO who focuses on disadvantaged children’s development and The Foundation for Positive Change – a NGO who helps families deal with the effects of trauma or crisis since 1994.

The witty and entertaining TV presenter Katlego Maboe was this year's MC. Three amazing acts entertained the guests – the Zip Zap Circus performed their international award-winning

Joka Boys Bench Act; Paint Addiction did an incredible speed painting of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Alistair Izobell and his cast members performed feet-tapping songs from the hit show Remembering the Lux. As a surprise for the guests, the Dean and Consul General of Switzerland presented five Swatch watches to five lucky guests who happened to be in the right seats.

The main event was the unconventional auction of unique items, again led by SA’s leading female auctioneer and multiple award winner Ariella Kuper of Clear Asset. Some of the unusual items that was auctioned off included:

- The Consul of Italy, Alfonso Tagliaferri, holds a sensory Italian dining experience for 12 people at his private residence.

- The acclaimed Zip Zap Circus performs their award-winning acrobatic Joka Boys Bench Act at the highest bidder's home.

- A personal experience with SA's famous artist Dylan Lewis. The highest bidder gets a beautiful Leopard Print, as well as a guided tour by the artist through his magnificent Sculpture Garden in Stellenbosch.

- A traditional British Tea hosted by the British High Commissioner, Dame Judith Macgregor, in the garden of her historic Bishopscourt residence, followed by a night's stay in the 5-star Taj Hotel.

- 6 People experience the nightly annual blooming of the only Amazon Victoria water-lily in SA in the company of wildlife celebrity Dave Pepler, while enjoying a picnic prepared by top chef Bertus Basson.

- A private tour and night's stay at the historic Sait Halim Pasa Mansion in Istanbul, not available to ordinary tourists.

- A Vodka & Caviar tasting followed by a Russian dinner hosted by the Russian Consul General, Roman Ambarov, at his private residence.

- 2 Nights at Dr Christo Wiese's exclusive Kalahari Oryx Game Reserve near Upington, including game drives and clay-pigeon shooting.

- A unforgettable traditional lunch with Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout and Pieter-Dirk Uys at Evita's Perron in Darling.

- 3 Collections of sought-after red wines by the Distell Group, all signed by the wine masters and packaged in hand-made wooden boxes.

- An enormous traditional Asado Paraguayo braai hosted by the Honorary Consul of Paraguay, Mirella Kruger, at her private residence.

- A 5 day safari in Rwanda with Dave Pepler and Francois, the guide who accompanied the late Dian Fossey from the film Gorillas in the mist, who will lead them to meet the gorillas in the wild.

The Tombola again consisted of items donated by the various consulates. It offered these unique prizes:

- From France – a case of Moet et Chandon Champagne.

- A case of His Excellency red wine produced in Paarl by theAmbassador of the Russian Federation.

- From Romania – a traditional handmade Bota Bag, filled with Romanian schnapps.

- From Georgia - a traditional toasting horn that is passed around among guests to make various toasts.

- From Belgium - handmade chocolates.

- From Colombia - a Mochila bag made by the Wayuu Indians.

- Two return flights from Cape Town to Walvis Bay courtesy of Air Namibia with four night’s accommodation at the Strand Hotel and Legacy Hotel in Swakopmund.

- Two return tickets from Edelweiss Air.