Hloni’s journey ends in Idols

Hlohonolofatso Mahate (23) recently appeared on our TV screens during the Idols competition auditions in Pretoria.

Before singing Maroon 5’s Sunday Morning, Hloni told his story about how his late brother Lucky and sister Ntswaki also wished to take part in the competition.

Hloni explained that after the death of his siblings who wished wholeheartedly to audition during the previous years, his girlfriend was the only person who kept on encouraging him to audition.

A few hours after his girlfriend’s funeral (she fell sick after giving birth to their daughter, Mpilenhle Lethabo Masango who will be turning one year on October 16), Hloni was brave enough to go to the auditions and the judges gave him the thumbs up, a golden ticket that took him to the next stage of the competition.

Hloni went to Zamani Primary School from 1997 until 2003, then he went to Tlakula High School.

After completing his Grade 12 at Tlakula, Hloni went to study BSc Metallurgy at Wits University but due to hardships involving personal issues, Hloni was forced to drop out when he was doing his second year.

To ensure that he goes back to the university to study so as to have a brighter tomorrow, Hloni worked at Element Six for two years and in 2013 he went back to Wits and registered for a Bachelor of Education course.

He says the first music genre that he was introduced to by his late brother, Lucky Mahate, was R&B.

Hloni said his brother, who also wished to audition for the Idols, was also a born musician.

“I listen to almost all kinds of music depending on my mood, but during my high school days Highveld stereo played a huge role in my love of pop and rock music,” said Hloni.

He said when going to audition in the competition, he had a dream that one day he would record his own soul and gospel music album.

“I want to sing gospel as a way of thanking God for all that he has done for me,” he said.

Giving a word of encouragement to the young people, Hloni said, “We live in a practical world where in order for the things to be done, one needs to do the work.

“Every dream will only be achieved when a dreamer steps forward and is not afraid of criticism,” said a confident Hloni.

On Sunday, during the first audition in the theatre week, Hloni managed to impress the judges and was safe from elimination but after the second audition, after singing Pink’s So what song with the other two participants Hloni did not make it to the top 31 finalists.