Moloto takes top award
Lethabo Moloto, from Teaming Section in Tembisa, cried tears of joy when she was named the best student of the year during the Tswelopele Performing Arts awards ceremony held at a packed Moses Molelekwa Art Centre on Saturday.
She said winning the award was a dream come true for her.
Even though she has been doing her best at the world-renowned Tswelopele Performing Arts Foundation, she never thought that one day she would be selected as the best student of the year.
When asked why she was crying, she said she was excited and overwhelmed.
“I am still so excited that I do not know what to say. I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that I have really won this award,” she said.
Katlego Matchete won the Overall Perfomer Award.
She said she feels great to have finally won an award after putting in a lot of work at school.
“It feels great to be counted among the best, by the very best, also competing with the best. I would really like to thank my parents for encouraging me to work hard, and the director Oupa Malatjie, for pushing us hard at school,” she said.
Meanwhile, the managing director of the Tswelopele Performing Artists, Mr Oupa “China” Malatjie, said the main aim of the awards is to encourage students to do more in the future.
“We look at a lot of things when selecting students for the awards. We look at things like discipline, behaviour and willingness to learn new things, ” he said.
He added that they would also like to encourage those who did not win to pull up their socks and work harder next year.
“They should not be discouraged, but should focus more on their acting next year,” he added.
The Department of Arts, Culture and Heritage in Ekurhuleni sponsored the event with food and and the awards.
“We really thank them for their wonderful support to the performing arts,” said Mr Malatjie.
