WATCH: Nkobongo singer Mthokozisi Mlatha scores Idols golden ticket!

It was a case of third time lucky for Nkobongo singer Mthokozisi Mlatha who took home a gleaming golden ticket from this year’s Idols SA auditions in Durban.

The talented 23 year old has auditioned three times without getting through to the TV auditions – but this year he finally made it onto our screens – and got a ‘yes’ from each of the four judges while he was at it.

“2019 is my lucky year!” he said.

Mlatha always knew he had a special gift, but was hesitant to use it.

“I was always very shy to sing in front of people. When I got to high school, I realised that it was now or never.”

Mlatha started an a cappella gospel singing group at his school, North Coast Agricultural College.

The group is still going strong today, and they perform at funerals, weddings, and other events.

When the group started, the principal gave them a room in the school to rehearse in, and asked them to sing at a school function.

“One of my teachers, Mrs Reddy, saw something in me. She suggested that I enter Idols,” said Mlatha.

For his golden ticket audition, Mlatha decided to sing one of the judge’s own songs, Vusi Nova’s Ndikuthandile.

“The judges thought I would butcher it,” Mlatha laughs. Clearly, that was not the case.

Vusi Nova and Sam Turner (known as Uncle Sam) are two of Mlatha’s musical inspirations. His favourite genres are Afro-pop and Afro-soul.

Mlatha’s mother passed away when he was three, and he was raised by his grandmother, Mavis Mlatha.

“I am very proud of him,” she said. “I was so happy when he got through.”

Mlatha said he wanted to make his parents and grandmother proud of him and to show others that nothing was impossible if you believed you could do it.

Preparations have started for the next round of auditions, known as Theatre Week.

“The competition is tight, but I do believe in myself. This is my time now, I want to show people what I have and give people what belongs to them. I believe that God gave me this gift to heal people with my music.”

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