EC school choirs hit high note

On song with top achievements at eisteddfod

EASTERN Cape school choirs participating in this year’s ABC Motsepe South Africa School Choir Eisteddfod national championship have so far stolen the show, winning in almost all the categories.

The competition, which is in its 18th year, is a joint venture between the department of basic education and the Motsepe Foundation.

Participating schools from across the country’s nine provinces have currently converged at the Rhema Bible Church in Johannesburg, where the competition is taking place.

Themed “Celebrating the Centenary of Nelson Mandela through Music”, the event started on Tuesday and ends today.

Department of basic education spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said the eisteddfod remains one of the most crucial school enrichment programmes on the national agenda.

It promoted unity in diversity, national reconciliation, a new South African national identity, social transformation and social cohesion among pupils, he added.

The participating schools from the province have so far taken first, second and third place in 15 categories.

Seven schools have taken first prizes.

Nolitha Special School in Molteno came first in the special schools category, where they sang their own composition.

Mandela Park Primary School in Mthatha has so far taken up the top spot in three different categories: boys’ choir, African song and a school choir’s rendition of the national anthem.

Other winners are Mayekiso Farm School near Butterworth, whose sextet came third in the farm school category; Zadungeni Primary School from Ngcobo, which was placed third in the indigenous folklore category; and Lusikisiki’s Canhams Junior Secondary School, whose rendition of the preamble to the constitution of South Africa was ranked third.

Rocklands Farm School’s sextet from Uitenhage came first in the secondary farm school category, and two schools from Bizana – Nonkqubela Junior Secondary School – were placed second with their anthem of the African Union and Gumzana Junior Secondary School was placed first in two categories.

Eastern Cape education superintendent-general Themba Kojana said the pupils’ outstanding achievements were the result of proper preparations by both determined pupils and teachers.

“This affirms that the province is the home of legends and the home of music.

“The schools’ achievements have also boosted our confidence as a province and proven that we are not always last,” said Kojana. —

The province is the home of legends and the home of music. The schools’ achievements have also boosted our confidence as a province and proven that we are not always last