TOP gospel musician and presenter Khaya Mthethwa has challenged eThekwini Municipality.
He said he believes the municipality needs to have a long-term plan for the winners of their 10th annual gospel Gospel Icon Discovery competition.
Khaya, who is also the winner of Idols South Africa season 8, was a judge alongside MTN Joyous Celebration co-founder Lindelani Mkhize and musician Xolisa Dlamini during the grand finale competition held at ICC in Durban on Sunday, 11 June.
Nelisizwe Skhosana won the competition against Nelisa Dlamini and Sindy Ngidi, and walked away with R50 000.
Khaya, who is also a pastor, said if there's no longevity in what the municipality is doing, how will they know who'll sign the winner and which contract will be in favour of the winner.
"We have to ask ourselves as eThekwini Municipality about what is next. If we can't answer the question about what is next, it will become a fatal exercise.
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"I'm speaking about this as a person who won a competition and knows the frustration of not getting support. I know the frustration and I'm not speaking in theory," he said.
Khaya said he knew how it felt like to sleep in an unknown place or who he'd approach in the morning, but he was lucky because his parents knew a lot of people and that's why he survived.
"None of these kids have those people. The question that we and the municipality need to ask ourselves is: after this billboard, where we will consume these children from tonight?
"Where are we going buy their music? Who is going to sign them? Who is going to make sure that 10 years from now, they have released five albums and are touring South Africa?
"This is my challenge that I want to put to the eThekwini Municipality" he said.
Nelisizwe from KwaMashu, north of Durban, said she's over the moon that she won the competition.
"I started my music career in 2016 as a jazz musician but because I also lead a worship team in my church, Discovery Church, I entered the competition through auditioning and won," she said.
Nelisizwe said being in the top three showed her that she could go all the way to scoop the competition, adding that she'll continue entering more competitions.
EThekwini municipal chief whip Councillor Sinegugu Sishange, said they started the competition 10 years ago.
"Our aim was to create a place for Durban gospel artists and now we have 10 winners. One day we wish to see them performing on one stage, to show us that they are growing," she said.
