My impressions regarding Gold being rare in Africa is based on the very good treatment I recieved and the fact that I did not really see any goldcard luggage tags.

On LHR-NBO on the upper deck, I was the first to be asked for dinner choice eventhough I was seated in the middle.

On check-in for JNB at NBO they sent three people to work on my missing e-ticket. This included one who closed down her economy class check-in stand.

At JNB my non-changeable redemption ticket was changed to an earlier flight without any discussion whatsoever.

I can assure you that no of these things have ever happened to my a paid fare thorugh LHR or JFK.