The provincial elimination rounds of the South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod took place at the Witbank Civic Centre from Thursday to Sunday June 2 to 5.

All the competing schools in all three districts, Gert Sibande, Nkangala and Ehlanzeni, and 17 local municipalities in Mpumalanga battled it out for a spot to raise the flag and represent the province in the national competition to be held later in June.

The foundation phase competition for grades R to 4 took place on Thursday June 2, the intermediate phase competition took place on Friday June 3, the secondary special schools and opera section competition took place on Saturday June 4 and the secondary schools section, male and female choirs took place on Sunday June 5.

Musawenkosi Mathebula was named the overall best conductor of day 2 during the intermediate phase competition. Mathebula is a teacher at Phakani Primary School in the Ehlanzeni District. He won first position after demonstrating his out-of-this-world conducting abilities and will represent the province on national level.

Mathebula told Mpumalanga News it has been a long, hard journey, but hard work and effort is what helped him and his choir to prevail.
“Choral music is ingrained in our life, and it is what keeps us going as conductors. These two years have been the most difficult for us, because Covid-19 has taken away the only thing we enjoy doing. We had always yearned for a time like this to reunite and compete as choral lovers. It wasn’t easy, but we are grateful for the chance to compete again and present what our choirs have prepared. I’m ecstatic to have won. It’s the highest award a conductor can receive after devoting so much time and effort to making the choir one of the best. It’s a wonderful feeling that I can’t put into words – it is simply wonderful,” said Mathebula.

The schools that will represent Mpumalanga in the national finals in Gauteng:
• Phakani Primary School
• Thanda Combined School
• Kaapvallei Primary School
• Mvuyazi Primary School
• Sele Primary School
• Thushanang Primary School
• Mashishing Secondary School
• Ndlela Secondary School
• Matimba Secondary School
• Zacheus Malaza Secondary School
• Chayaza Secondary School
• Estralita Special School.