Boy shoots to stardom after mistaken identity

A SINGING sensation from the Philippines and a case of mistaken identity has turned a Port Elizabeth teenager into an unlikely hero, spreading hope in the northern areas.

A video of the Filipino boy, first posted on YouTube at least three years ago, has resurfaced on Facebook.

The video is linked to a post saying: “Amongst all the gang-related shootings and drugs and violence, this angelic voice arises! A boy from Schauderville PE [Paterson High School apparently]. Please pray for him to go places! He is incredible!”

It has been shared nearly 3 000 times and viewed more than 45 000 times since being reposted on Facebook on December 16.

But efforts to track down the boy led to Levin Plaatjies, 13, who is starting Grade 9 at Paterson High School next year.

And while the Korsten family of Levin have no idea who or when the video was taken, they – and the northern areas community – are only too happy to hold onto anything positive to come out of the northern area only associated with gang warfare.

The Port Elizabeth singer’s grandmother Sarah Malgas, 69, said: “We have been to many places with people taking photos. However it is still a good thing that we have such talent coming from the northern areas.

“His singing keeps him off of the streets.”

The child in video that went viral on Facebook is actually Rhonsben Jonota, 15, who was a semifinalist in Pilipinas Got Talent. He sings a rendition of

in the video. The —