VIDEO: Singing Glen Marais dad aims for Mr South Africa title
Hannes van der Walt said it would be his honour to be a Kemptonian to win the title of Mr. SA.
Glen Marais’ Hannes van der Walt (38) currently ranks in the top 10 favourites of the Mr South Africa competition.
Out of the 95 contestants he ranked ninth after the competition’s first phase.
The competition, which started with 200 contestants, saw Van der Walt climbing his way up the ladder based on public votes.
When asked why he entered, Van der Walt said: “It is an amazing platform to be able to say I’m making a difference. There are great prizes and other benefits but for me that is a side issue.”
Van der Walt, a dad who has been living in Kempton for the past 16 years, said before he entered Mr SA, he originally planned to start a foundation from which people in the community could benefit. However, he now has three charities lined up as part of the assigned tasks in the competition.
“With the challenges the competition sets out, it is easier to reach my original goal and the competition will also help charities gain more exposure.
“We are now entering the second phase of the competition. Each contestant has to get 10 businesses to financially support them and in return their websites will get exposure on the Mr SA platform.”
After each assigned task has been completed, contestants are judged and some are voted out.
“I think for October’s task, men will be voted out by mid-November.
“This is how the competition will proceed until September next year when the Top 20 election will start with televised programmes as well.”
He welcomes the lengthy drop-out process as he still has to reach his full potential for the more public side of the contest.
“I have the flat stomach and the pack is visible, but I told my wife the only way I would take off my shirt is when I am totally ripped.
“I have a sweet family,” said Van der Walt talking about his 16-year-old daughter and his son, who is turning 12 in June.
“They really support me tremendously. I know there might be contestants who think of this journey in terms of ‘I want to achieve this and be able to do that’, but so far it’s been ‘We want to’.”
Van der Walt, who is known in and around Kempton for his musical and singing activity in the church community, said he doubted the contest would focus much on talents and youthful looks. He believes it will mainly focus on entrepreneurship, business sense and the ability to bring change.
“This time around, I don’t want to sit back in my comfort zone hiding behind my voice. I would sing in front of millions of people because that’s what I do.
“But talking to a million people in a different context is another ball game. And walking in a speedo on stage wasn’t my idea either.”
Van der Walt has his own campaign to urge voter participation by having them enter a lucky draw.
“There is about ten months remaining in the competition and I have ten sponsors. I am going to have a lucky draw where voters stand a chance to win a prize from the sponsor for that month.”
Voters need to send Van der Walt proof of their vote via email to hvdwalt81@gmail.com to be entered into the lucky draw.
The Mr SA results during these challenges will mainly be based on public votes. Kemptonians can vote for him by sending ‘MRSA14’ to 40439.
Votes are charged at R2 an SMS.
Also like his Mr SA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Hannes.vdWalt.artist/.
