Grade 6 pupil gave Boks a praise-singing boost

MBALI Mgxaji was among the performers during the opening ceremony of the game between the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium last week.

The 12-year-old from Khayelitsha, who was dressed in traditional Xhosa dress, performed praise singing before the game.

Mbali said she was in Grade 6 at Nkanini Primary School.

She sharpens her skills at Khayelitsha Art School and Rehabilitation Centre.

“I enjoyed performing on Saturday, even though there were no fans to enjoy my performance,” she said. Mbali also acts, sings and dances. She said her school does not offer any of the things she enjoys doing.

“I also love ballet but we don’t have it at school and I would also love to be an actor or a TV presenter when I grow up,” she said.

She said she sees her talents taking her to Hollywood one day.

She performs at the Shack Theatre which was started by Mandisi Sindo in 2017.

Sindo said Mbali’s talents were discovered when she was nine.

“Among over 100 performers in the programme she became a shining star in a very short space of time, giving exceptional performances to different audience members,”

She has performed in the Fugard Theatre, Zolani Centre and the Shack.