Pacs High learner wins GO GEORGE rap competition
To loud and joyful applause, Pacaltsdorp High School learner Olwethu Sayidini was announced as the overall winner of the GO GEORGE Anti-vandalism Rap Competition for high schools held at the George Arts Theatre on Wednesday 10 August 2022. His catchy chorus lyrics will certainly stay on repeat in the minds of the audience: “Please stop the vandalism … It is part of gangsterism … Do you wanna end up in prison?”
The runners-up are both from George High School: Graziel Heathcote (second place) and Likho Ntshohgontshi (third place). The three winners were selected from 10 finalists entered by eight high schools in George.
The competition formed part of a focused, multi-pronged campaign by GO GEORGE to raise the alarm and to focus attention on the vexing social issue of vandalism, and specifically the vandalism of GO GEORGE infrastructure (buses and shelters) provided at high cost for the benefit of the community.
Entrants had to comply with specific criteria relating, amongst others, to the use of the words GO GEORGE and vandalism, in addition to the requirement that the content should not be offensive in any way and be suitable for distribution. The original lyrics the contestants came up with were inspiring and powerful, speaking about the negative influence of vandalism on the bus service and their communities, as well as the consequences to the perpetrator. Their messages will be strengthened by using the media to which the youth respond, such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.
George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, handed over the prizes to the three winners. He reiterated the importance of preventing vandalism. “We are acutely aware that the GO GEORGE and overall municipal anti-vandalism drive has been born out of the necessity to put a stop to the scourge of vandalism in our town and in our communities,” he said. “Vandalism is not a prank or a game; it is a criminal offence that can have lasting consequences for the perpetrators. I am truly heartened by what I have seen and heard tonight – vandalism needs to be discouraged at all costs. I believe that this competition represents a very relevant and powerful form of expression, used by our youth who have the power to influence their peers.”
The winner of the competition received Beats Solo3 wireless on-ear headphones, the second-prize winner a set of Skullcandy wireless earbuds, and the winner of the third prize went home with a JBL flip 5 Bluetooth speaker. Each finalist received a goodie bag containing vouchers or products from various sponsors including Margot Swiss, Watsons Meat, Coca-Cola, Root Café, Nando’s, RocoMamas, Spur and Panarotti’s.
CAPTIONS:
Winner of the GO GEORGE Anti-vandalism Rap Competition, Olwethu Sayidini
First runner-up of the GO GEORGE Anti-vandalism Rap Competition, Graziel Heathcote
Second runner-up of the GO GEORGE Anti-vandalism Rap Competition, Likho Ntshohgontshi
Rap winners with Mayor:
George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk, handed over the prizes to the three talented winners of the rap competition. Posing with him are, from left, Olwethu Sayidini (winner), second runner-up Likho Ntshohgontshi, and first runner-up Graziel Heathcote.
Judges 1:
Three of the four competition judges are well-known entertainers: from left, Yoma, Moses Williams and Jason Hakkiesdraad Hartman.
Judges 2:
Robyn Mouton (right) is a local youth who is sight impaired, knows and sincerely loves rap music and listens with a fine-tuned ear. He was part of the panel of judges, assisted here by his father, Alberto Mouton.
Rap finalists:
The rap competition finalists who shared their wisdom and talent with an appreciative audience were, from left, front: Jade van Harte (Eden Technical High School), Jamil Pretorius (Outeniqua High School), Franwill Frazenberg (Van Kervel School), Kirstan Keffers (Parkdene High School), and Liyema Nsasane (George High School); from left, back: Jerome Appels (Olympia School), Baynalekhem Misland (Outeniqua High School), Liko Ntshohgontshi (George High School), Graziel Heathcote (George High School), Jerico Manies (Olympia School) and Olwetho Sayidine (Pacaltsdorp High School).
Winners with ambassadors and VIPs:
Posing with the three winners after the final competition event were George Executive Mayor, Alderman Leon van Wyk (middle, back), Cllr Gert Niehaus, chairman of the Section 79 committee of the George Council (second from right), and James Robb, acting Public Transport Oversight Official of the Municipality (second from left), as well as three of the six GO GEORGE anti-vandalism ambassadors: Moses Williams, actor and comedian (far left), Lizette da Silva, George Herald editor (middle), and behind her, Morné Pietersen, Station Manager, Eden FM. Three of the ambassadors, Peter Jaftha, Lloyd Bosman and Zane Kirchner, were not able to attend the event, but sent their best wishes to the finalists and winners. Olwethu Sayidini (winner) and second runner-up Likho Ntshohgontshi are standing next to James Robb, with first runner-up Graziel Heathcote far right.
AFRIKAANS:
PERSVRYSTELLING: Hoërskool Pacaltsdorp-leerder wen GO GEORGE rap-kompetisie
Olwethu Sayidini, ’n leerder van Hoërskool Pacaltsdorp, is onder luide en vreugdevolle applous aangekondig as die algehele wenner van die GO GEORGE Anti-vandalisme Rap-kompetisie vir hoërskole wat op Woensdag 10 Augustus 2022 in die George Kunsteteater gehou is. Sy treffende koorlirieke sal nog lank bly draai in die gehoor se geheue: “Please stop the vandalism … It is part of gangsterism … Do you wanna end up in prison?”
Die naaswenners is albei van Hoërskool George: Graziel Heathcote (tweede plek) en Likho Ntshohgontshi (derde plek). Die drie wenners is gekies uit 10 finaliste wat deur agt hoërskole in George ingeskryf is.
Die kompetisie het deel gevorm van ‘n gefokusde veldtog deur GO GEORGE om aandag te vestig op die kommerwekkende sosiale kwessie van vandalisme, en spesifiek die vandalisering van GO GEORGE-infrastruktuur (busse en skuilings) wat teen hoë koste tot voordeel van die gemeenskap verskaf word.
Deelnemers moes voldoen aan spesifieke kriteria soos die gebruik van die woorde GO GEORGE en vandalisme, benewens die vereiste dat die inhoud op geen manier aanstootlik moet wees nie en geskik moet wees vir verspreiding. Die oorspronklike lirieke waarmee die deelnemers vorendag gekom het, was inspirerend en kragtig en het verwys na die negatiewe invloed van vandalisme op hul gemeenskappe en die busdiens, asook die gevolge vir die oortreder. Die boodskappe sal versterk word deur die media te gebruik waarop die jeug reageer, soos Facebook, TikTok en Instagram.
George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk, het die pryse aan die drie wenners oorhandig. Hy het die belangrikheid daarvan om vandalisme te voorkom, beklemtoon. “Ons is deeglik bewus daarvan dat GO GEORGE en die munisipaliteit se anti-vandalisme-dryfkrag gebore is uit die noodsaaklikheid om ‘n einde te maak aan die plaag van vandalisme in ons dorp en in ons gemeenskappe,” het hy gesê. “Vandalisme is nie ‘n poets of ‘n speletjie nie; dit is ‘n kriminele oortreding wat blywende gevolge vir die oortreders kan hê. Ek is werklik bemoedig deur wat ek vanaand gesien en gehoor het – vandalisme moet ten alle koste ontmoedig word. Ek glo hierdie kompetisie verteenwoordig ‘n baie relevante en kragtige vorm van uitdrukking wat deur ons jeug gebruik word en wat die mag het om hul portuurgroep te beïnvloed.”
Die wenner van die kompetisie het Beats Solo3 draadlose oorfone ontvang, die tweede pryswenner ‘n stel Skullcandy draadlose oorfone, en die wenner van die derde prys is huis toe met ‘n JBL flip 5 Bluetooth-luidspreker. Elke finalis het ‘n geskenksak met koopbewyse of produkte van verskeie borge ontvang, waaronder Margot Swiss, Watsons Vleis, Coca-Cola, Root Café, Nando’s, RocoMamas, Spur en Panarotti’s.
BYSKRIFTE:
Wenner van die GO GEORGE Anti-vandalisme Rap-kompetisie, Olwethu Sayidini
Eerste naaswenner van die GO GEORGE Anti-vandalisme Rap-kompetisie, Graziel Heathcote
Tweede naaswenner van die GO GEORGE Anti-vandalisme Rap-kompetisie, Likho Ntshohgontshi
3 wenners met burgemeester:
George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk, het die pryse aan die drie talentvolle wenners van die rap-kompetisie oorhandig. Saam met hom op die verhoog is, van links, Olwethu Sayidini (wenner), tweede naaswenner Likho Ntshohgontshi, en eerste naaswenner Graziel Heathcote.
Judges 1:
Drie van die vier kompetisiebeoordelaars is bekende vermaaklikheidskunstenaars: van links, Yoma, Moses Williams en Jason Hakkiesdraad Hartman.
Judges 2:
Robyn Mouton (regs) is ‘n plaaslike jongman wat siggestremd is, baie lief is vir rap-musiek en met ‘n fyn ingestelde oor luister. Hy was deel van die paneel beoordelaars, hier bygestaan deur sy pa, Alberto Mouton.
Rap finalists:
Die rap-kompetisiefinaliste wat hul wysheid en talent met ‘n waarderende gehoor gedeel het, was van links, voor: Jade van Harte (Eden Tegniese Hoërskool), Jamil Pretorius (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Franwill Frazenberg (Van Kervel-skool), Kirstan Keffers (Hoërskool Parkdene) en Liyema Nsasane (Hoërskool George); van links, agter: Jerome Appels (Olympia-skool), Baynalekhem Misland (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Liko Ntshohgontshi (Hoërskool George), Graziel Heathcote (Hoërskool George), Jerico Manies (Olympia-skool) en Olwetho Sayidine (Hoërskool Pacaltsdorp).
Winners with ambassadors and VIPs:
Saam met die drie wenners ná die finale kompetisiegeleentheid was George se uitvoerende burgemeester, raadsheer Leon van Wyk (middel, agter), rdl. Gert Niehaus, voorsitter van die Artikel 79-komitee van die George-raad (tweede van regs), en James Robb, waarnemende toesigbeampte van openbare vervoer van die munisipaliteit (tweede van links), asook drie van GO GEORGE se ses anti-vandalisme-ambassadeurs: Moses Williams, akteur en komediant (heel links), Lizette da Silva, George Herald-redakteur (middel), en agter haar, Morné Pietersen, stasiebestuurder, Eden FM. Drie van die ambassadeurs, Peter Jaftha, Lloyd Bosman en Zane Kirchner, kon nie die geleentheid bywoon nie, maar het hul beste wense aan die finaliste en wenners gestuur. Olwethu Sayidini (wenner) en tweede naaswenner Likho Ntshohgontshi staan langs James Robb, met die eerste naaswenner Graziel Heathcote heel regs.
