The Department of Basic Education has partnered with the Motsepe Foundation to bring you the 2016 ABC Motsepe School Choir Eisteddfod. The national competition is taking place from Tuesday, 28 June to Friday, 1 July 2016 at the Rhema Bible Church in Randburg, Johannesburg.
The ABC Motsepe Schools Eisteddfod, formerly known as the South African Schools Eisteddfod (SASCE), is one of the Department’s prestigious events in the annual school calendar.
The Eisteddfod is sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation to the tune of R3 million per year most of which will go towards the prizes for the winning choirs in all 38 categories at the National Eisteddfod (i.e. positions 1, 2 and 3). The ABC Motsepe Schools Eisteddfod is also supported by the Department of Arts and Culture
Now in its 16th year, the Eisteddfod remains one of the most crucial school enrichment programmes that promote unity in diversity, national reconciliation, a new South African National Identity, social transformation and social cohesion among learners.
The two main themes for this year’s event are “Commemoration of the 1956 Women’s March” and the “Commemoration of the 1976 Youth uprising”. The prescription and music is aligned to the theme, there are new compositions and commissioned work specifically for this year.
The breakdown of the performance on a daily basis will be as follows:
Day 1: 28 June 2016
- Primary School Choirs
Day 2: 29 June 2016
- Secondary Schools: Farm School Section
- Secondary B School Choirs
Day 3: 30 June 2016
- School Choirs in the Secondary A and Open Section
Day 4: 01 July 2016
- School Choirs in the Secondary A and Open Section
The choirs will also recite the Preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and sing the “Plea for Africa” piece as a symbol of commemorating our past. The South African National Anthem, which is a permanent feature of this programme, will also be sung.
All performances will commence at 08h00 on a daily basis.
To date all provinces have held their Eisteddfods with the exception of Northern Cape.
There will be an opportunity to interview the learners, teachers and participants throughout the competition. Members of the media are requested to RSVP ahead of time to ensure accreditation is available for collection upon arrival. No member of the media will be granted access to the venue without accreditation owing to strict security measures at the Rhema Bible Church in Randburg (Johannesburg) in Gauteng.
Members of the media are requested to please RSVP by contacting Ms Tebogo Mushi by email: mushi.t@dbe.gov.za to provide their name, media house and contact details.
Enquiries
Balosang Sanki Lerefolo
Cell: 082 836 8703
E-mail: lerefolo.s@dbe.gov.za
Motsepe Foundation:
Mr Sizwe Nzimande:
Cell: 082 852 2279
Ms Nozipho Xulu
Cell: 082 431 6768
E-mail: nozipho.Xulu@motsepefoundation.org
