Greenside pupil the next big thing

GREENSIDE – Greenside High School pupil, Khanyisile Mkhize has her eyes set on some silverware at the 11th annual Young Performer Awards Finals.

The awards are organised by the National Eisteddfod Academy focusing on youth development in music, dance, drama and visual arts.

The 17-year-old who won the Ambassadors award, the highest accolade for contemporary vocals in last year’s eisteddfod, is vying to bag a cool R50 000 in the Contemporary Music category where she will sing a solo.

The Grade 12 pupil said she couldn’t believe it when news broke that she had made it to the finals, however she was ready. “I believe in myself and my talents,” she said.

Director of culture at the school, Annelize Hicks said Mhkize was multi-talented. “Her acting and singing are phenomenal,” she said. “She has a fat chance, not only at the R50 000, but also making it in the South African entertainment industry. She’s an incredibly passionate performer.

“I always tell my learners, ‘I want your guts to lie all over the stage, you must give yourself to the audience’, and she does that,” said Hicks.

Mkhize added, “Everytime I perform, I imagine Mrs Hicks’ ‘your guts must be on the stage’, that’s how she inspires me.”

Mkhize said she planned to further her training at Wits University or film, TV and performance school, AFDA. In the near future, she sees herself on TV and behind the scenes telling stories. “I want to be the next Dr John Kani or Athol Fugard,” she concluded.

The finals will take place at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria on 17 May.