Paris Hilton Finds Warm Welcome

March 24, 2008

American socialite Paris Hilton is expected to return to South Africa in June after a surprise visit at the weekend.

Hilton stole the limelight from international rock bands and musicians who jetted into South Africa for the My Coke Fest rock festival, the Sunday Times reported.

Hilton accompanied her musician boyfriend Benji Madden, the guitarist and back-up vocalist of the band Good Charlotte.

At the festival’s Friday night after-party at Fashion TV Cafe in Fourways, northern Johannesburg, the smiling celebrity was swamped by photographers and screaming fans.

On Thursday the heiress, who mentioned her plans to go on a global humanitarian tour after her release from jail last year, had Pretoria “tannies” gushing when she visited an orphanage.

She impressed staff at the Jakaranda Children’s Home as “a lovely human being, a gentle lady.”

Famous heavy metal rockers Korn and alternative rock band Muse were not the only ones upstaged.

Also taking a back seat was Johannesburg socialite and former Muvhango actress Khanyisile Mbau, who describes herself as the Paris Hilton of South Africa. She sat alone with millionaire husband Mandla Mthembu as they waited in vain to meet Hilton.

“I thought it would be nice to have pictures taken of the black and the white socialite together,” said Mbau. Organisers told Mbau to try again in June, the Sunday Times said.