The Gugulethu mystery murder of British honeymoon tourist Anni Dewani has serious collateral damage for SA tourism. Thursday’s launch of Oak Valley’s easy drinking lifestyle range, called Rawbones, at Mzoli’s butchery-cum-braai boma in Gugs, has Mother City Wine mavens making their wills and requesting special transport arrangements from the Rhodesian bush war. Oak Valley owner Anthony Rawbone-Viljoen (whose initials ARV ominously double as Armed Reconnaissance Vehicle) issued the following press statement to calm the fevered brows of bibulists, bullshitters and bloggistes:

Anthony Rawbone-Viljoen

In the light of the recent tragic event in Guguletu, I feel it necessary to convey the following with regards to the launch of our new wine label, and the choice of venue. The decision to make use of Mzoli’s in Guguletu as a venue for the introduction of our new label was made in August of this year, and discussed and confirmed with Mr Mzoli Ngcawuzele in October. As a result of the sad incident last weekend, we were placed in a position whereby we had to re-consider our decision. However, we trust that you will support our verdict to stick with the original plan, and to continue with our arrangements to launch at Mzolis in Guguletu. Oak Valley is a proudly South African wine producer and would like to use this opportunity to join forces with Cape Town Tourism to combat the negative publicity, and to portray an image of positive development and unity that was so apparent during the recent FIFA World Cup. I trust that you will support our belief, and join us in our special day as a demonstration of defeating negative sentiment and striving towards a positive South Africa.

While WOSA’s controversial braii masters book is selling tjop-tjop according to sources in the secretive exporters’ mouthpiece, WOSA management missed a rare and politically correct opportunity to include Mzoli’s whose house wines are often unfairly traduced by sighted wine guides. Let’s hope Mzoli’s will be included in future editions.