Sterling talents from various schools in Durban were showcased at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2023 Talent Show, hosted by the DUT School Engagement Project in partnership with Cooperative Education, at Sastri College Main Hall on Saturday, 26 August 2023.

The Talent Show was attended by DUT staff, students, teachers, parents and learners from neighbouring schools. The School Engagement Project has six partner schools: Durban Girls Secondary, Sastri College, Hunt Road Secondary, Overport Secondary, Sparks Estate Secondary and Bechet High.

The DUT School Engagement Project was launched in 2018. This project is about developing innovation and leadership using DUT students as mentors to high school learners. This project also provides academic support and career guidance to the School Engagement’s six participating schools.

Welcoming the guest to the groovy event was Berenice de La Croix; DUT School Engagement Project Manager.“Welcome to the very heart-warming and beautiful talent show where we going to experience some of the best talents in South Africa. I am very excited to see so many enthusiastic people today who are here to celebrate talents of our youth that is really what the show is all about its about celebrating often unrecognised talent, having a good time, creating new relationships and building this  holistic educational community where we support each other where we support our kids find their talents and to express them in meaningful ways,” she said.

The event was further sponsored by DUT Alumni, Iqraa trust, ICON, Career Connect Group, TLT Programme, and Bridge by Gradesmatch. The dedication and performance given by the performers was evident in their performances on the day. The event had hip hop dancers, opera singers, indigenous choirs to rap artists giving it their all. After much deliberation, the winners for the five top positions were announced.

Voucher prizes from DUT ranging from R5000, R4000, R3000, R2000 to R1000 were awarded to the top five winners. Shriya Indurjeet took fifth place and won a R1000 voucher.   Zack Dogg was awarded a R2000 voucher for fourth position.  S and A Dancers was awarded a R3000 voucher for third position.  Orrin Matheison was awarded a R4000 voucher for coming second with his superb singing. The champions of the day were the Location Moverz  who were awarded the grand prize of a R5000 voucher for their well-executed dance routine.

The winning team consisting of Bayanda Makatisi, Kwezi Phewa, Andile Ngcobo, Andile Hlope and Yandisa Bam were over the moon with their win. They professed that in 2022 they came fifth and are elated to be the overall winners in this year’s competition.

“We all worked hard and practiced often to get the sequence right. We pushed hard to practice during our break times and are very happy about the results,” said Makatisi, the group leader.

One of the invited guests at the event, Ms Nthabiseng Ralethohlane, a Human Resource consultant

said that from registration to the end of the show-it was well-planned, despite the loadshedding interruptions. “Not having too much of knowledge about the stages the participants go through until the final stage, I think there’s more than can be done, however, what I do value about this show is that the learners are taken away from the streets and this gives them hope. The judges did an excellent job too. I will give them a rating of 10,” she said.

Berenice de La Croix; DUT School Engagement Project Manager, thanked all the competitors for taking part in the competition and the guests and funders for their support.

All in all, participants had a great time showcasing their talent, some for the first time performing on stage, through jitters and nerves, giving it their all. Majority of the learners vowed to come back next year, 2024, more ready and revved up to compete for the top five winning seats.

Pictured: Talent show winners, Location Moverz.

Pictured: Shriya Indurjeet took fifth place and won a R1000 voucher.

Waheeda Peters