'Monster T' turns VIP
2004-03-09 09:00
Marthinus van Vuuren and Lucia Swart
Johannesburg - Nestled on the slopes of a Johannesburg ridge sits the Westcliff Hotel - in all its pink glory.
Its guests are the rich and famous including South Africa's own Hollywood superstar, Charlize Theron.
The hotel has made no secret about her name on their guest list, although the staff aren't divulging any secrets.
When asked about Charlize, one employee told Beeld newspaper: "They will kill me if I talk to you."
Others however, played dumb. "Charlize who?" asked one worker.
"Oh ja! The VIP."
But after tapping a few words into his computer, the word VIP came back as "Monster T".
Excitedly he told of the beautiful young woman who chatted and laughed with friends in the Polo Lounge until late on Sunday night.
He told Beeld she had been wearing a gold-coloured dress. Whistling, he said: "Oh but is she beautiful."
While Beeld enjoyed an afternoon cup of tea, at R95, make-up artists and television camera crews loitered around the hotel.
It seemed that Top Billing's Basetsana Khumalo was just winding up an interview with her.
Charlize is apparently staying in the R9 400 a night presidential suite, and it was clear she did not want to be disturbed as numerous security guards and assistants were quick to clear away curious onlookers.
When Beeld left the hotel, members of the Johannesburg metro police were already standing by to whisk Charlize to Pretoria where she was expected to meet with President Thabo Mbeki.