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By Phenyo Selinda
Bloemfontein — The Free State Province proudly celebrated the outstanding achievements of its school choirs at the 2024 ABC Motsepe South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) National Championships. The prestigious event, held from 7-10 August 2024 at the Rhema Bible Church in Randburg, Gauteng, saw approximately 800 learners from 17 schools across the Free State participate in a musical showcase that highlighted the province’s rich talent.
Free State MEC for Education, Dr Mamiki Maboya, extended her heartfelt congratulations to all the choirs, conductors and officials who represented the province with distinction. “Our appreciation goes out to the Free State Team for their dedication and commitment, and I also congratulate our wonderful choirs for showcasing their inherent talents on the national stage,” said MEC Maboya. “This is indeed an outstanding achievement, and I implore them to keep the Free State flag flying high.”
The South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) is recognised as one of the most critical school enrichment programmes in the country, promoting unity in diversity, national identity, reconciliation and social cohesion among learners. Spokesperson for the Free State Department of Education, Howard Ndaba, emphasised the importance of the competition, stating that it plays an important role in the holistic development of young learners, preparing them for constructive lives that contribute positively to their communities and the country.
“The school choir and traditional music competition promotes the holistic development of the young learners and prepares them for constructive lives that are fulfilling for themselves, their communities and their country,” Ndaba said. He further stressed that SASCE serves as a platform to convey vital messages to the youth on pressing issues such as human trafficking, crime, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and other social challenges.
During the four-day championship, students competed in various categories including the Solo section, small ensemble, mixed choir categories, gender pieces and folklore. Among the many successes from the Free State, Nampo Secondary School stood out by taking 3rd place in the Mixed Double Quartet and 2nd place in the SATB Chamber Choir category. Nthabiseng Lebuso from Commtech Secondary School also received accolades, taking 3rd place in the Soprano/Alto Solo category.
MEC Maboya acknowledged the significance of these achievements, noting that they not only reflect the talent but also the hard work and dedication of the students and their mentors. “Congratulations to Nampo Secondary School for securing 3rd place in Mixed Double Quartet and 2nd place in SATB Chamber Choir. They represented the province well. Also congratulations to Nthabiseng Lebuso of Commtech Secondary School for securing 3rd place in Soprano/Alto Solo,” she said.
The 2024 SASCE National Championships have once again demonstrated the power of music in fostering unity, discipline and excellence among South Africa’s youth. As the choirs return to their respective schools, they carry with them not only the pride of their achievements but also the responsibility to continue to inspire others through their music.
The Free State’s success at this year’s championships is a testament to the province’s commitment to nurturing young talent and using music as a tool for social change and national development. As MEC Maboya rightly put it: “This program is the lever to give young people important messages about the current challenges and threats facing our country such as human trafficking, crime, drugs, alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy and other social ills in our midst.”
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