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STAR ATTRACTION: Usher is currently on a three-date tour of three cities - Joburg, Durban and Cape Town. Photo: Getty Images

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THERE was a reversal of charity donations on Tuesday night when the Tim Tebeila Foundation announced its formal joint venture with Usher's New Look Foundation.

The event was hosted by energy and mining mogul Tim Tebeila's foundation, which partnered with sensational American R&B superstar Usher Raymond at a superlatively sumptuous gala dinner at the Tebeila's palatial homestead in Hurlingham, Sandton.

The singer is currently on a three-date tour of three cities - Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

Usher's New Look Foundation is aptly named to inspire the youth with hope.

• He arrived at the low-key, best-kept secret private gala dinner at an opulent household, where there was a veritable presence of exclusively eminent guests.

The private gala dinner was compered by media personality DJ Sbu Leope, who was dressed in a close-fitting deep purple two-piece suit, a striped shirt and black shoes.

Addressing the guests, Tebeila remarked on the need for Africans to have real engagement with Americans on an equal footing.

"We need to start giving as well as Africans. For they cannot respect us if we only go to them cap in hand," he said.

"We cannot keep on being the recipients of American charity as though we cannot do things for ourselves. For real respect and exchange to develop between Americans and Africans we need take our charity to them as well."

The illustrious guests included Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane, former Miss South Africa Augustine Masilela-Chuene, singer and world Economic Forum-honoree Yvonne Chaka Chaka and her hubby Tiny Mhinga.

Also present at the function was the Limpopo-based Capricorn FM team, led by media and telecoms businessman Given Mkhari, which has worked with the Tim Tebeila Foundation on numerous charity projects.

Tim Tebeila Foundation and Usher's New Look Foundation have come together through the UNLF programme Peace is Powered by Service to assist young people worldwide.

The Peace is Powered by Service will take five South African youth in June to attend Usher's New Look Foundation's annual World Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in the US for five days.

After experiencing unexplained delays in arriving, Usher addressed the guests on his foundation and stayed clear of entertainment.

His speech was as formal as anything an alma mater will present before obedient pupils at their former school.

Usher then explained how he came to be interested in charity and his attraction to South Africa.

"I started my foundation to give hope to a worldwide youth. We formed a partnership with the Tim Tebeila Foundation because it is working with the youth to give them hope," said Usher, who was unusually coy and reserved for the wild performer he is on stage.

"It is by refocusing the youth to opportunities available to them in life that they can develop and make decision about career choices available.

"That we can produce youth with education that can sustain their future."

• Meanwhile, soapie star and soul singer Motlatsi Mafatshe, the Isidingo actor who portrays Sechaba, will open for Usher on Saturday at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

He is among the youthful musicians who were chosen to be part of the Hansa Festival of Legends.

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Wed Jun 19 17:25:10 SAST 2013 ::

Mar 8, 2012

Kwetja1206

Welcome to South africa,im waiting for you best performance ever,i wonder what girls will do when you Perfom jeezz.
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Mar 8, 2012

terrabites

they go wet lol its been 10 years since iseen this confused soul

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Mar 8, 2012

FANK

I have two tickets on hand for saturday.
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Mar 8, 2012

DJWinner

I don't care about this guy. Even if his ticket was costing R10, I would not b u y it.

Why is he only coming now? He should have come when his OMG song was still popular. Because now nobody cares about him and he is broke, he comes here trying to make some money, Seis! (spitting on the floor)
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Mar 8, 2012

xhosagirl

@DJWinner

when last did he release an album? some careers u big today 2mor u nothing
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Mar 8, 2012

terrabites

@xhosagirl u live in the dark he released an album last year already does OMG make sense to u

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Mar 8, 2012

Jericho.org

How old is Usher now? I don't know if i'm the only one who realises this but when MOST American artists start ageing and not so "cool" anymore, it is then that they find time to honor us with their presence and sing verrrry old and outdate songs.
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Mar 8, 2012

Menina11

@Xhosagirl, really? So u big fan of mbaqhanga?
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Mar 8, 2012

WordofGod

mxm!!!
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Mar 8, 2012

Tabza325is

@terrabites hahaha… she's living in the dark funny thing is DJWinner thinks he is broke neglecting how well the OMG album did also the fact that the cash-cow Beiber is sinned to Ushe.
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