EXCLUSIVE: Winner of Idols SA' season 18, Thapelo Molomo, shares insight
Thapelo Molomo, winner of 'Idols SA' 2022, says he will continue to serve his country with great music and as a civil servant.
Thapelo Molomo has been crowned this year's winner of 'Idols SA'.
The 29-year-old, who is a warrant officer in the South African Police Service, was announced as the winner of the singing competition on Sunday, 13 November.
Thapelo says he entered the competition with no doubt that he was going to win.
"I was not taking chances. I came with a very sober mind," he said.
Although he is already a recording artist and has been a back-up singer for popular South African Gospel ensemble, Spirit of Praise, the singer says he needed a boost and felt that 'Idols' would help push him into stardom.
"I knew how much I am a hard worker. I was putting my heart into every performance. I was making sure that I perform each performance like it is my last," he said.
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The singer added that there was never a time he felt that he wouldn't make it to the next round.
He adds that one of the best pieces of advice he received was to "have a teachable spirit always. You will go far."
"It really helped me a lot," he said.
The warrant officer said he is not willing to give up serving his country and ensuring there is law and order.
"I will proceed with my work. I will multi-task. I have always been multi-tasking anyway, so there is nothing new really, even though the audience is now big, but I feel it will be possible because musicians mostly work during the weekends, so what will I be doing during the week? I must generate an income. I will continue with my work," he said.
The Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, attended the finale on behalf of SAPS and congratulated the star after he was announced as the winner.
Thapelo, whose name is translated as 'prayer', went down on his knees and had a moment of prayer after being crowned the winner.
He says his win should inspire anyone with a dream to know that your background should never be a limitation.
"Don't give up on your dream. It doesn't matter where you are. It doesn't matter if you are deep in the rural [areas]. If God has given you a dream, he will surely ensure that it comes to pass, but what you need to do is be on the move. Don't sit back and wait for manna to come from heaven. Stand up and see opportunities and grasp them and run with them. That way you will be identified, you will be seen, and you will definitely go far," he said.
The 'Idols' winner has also thanked his fans and said they should know that he will continue to deliver the music that they voted for, before adding that his identity is in Gospel and Afro-soul.
"I just want to say thank you guys for voting for me. Your love and support, SMSs, data and all those... it is because of you guys," he concluded.
Thapelo won over R1-million cash, a Toyota Starlet, a fashion voucher from Truworths, and his live show outfits. He also won R85,000 worth of musical equipment from Yamaha and a recording contract with Kalawa J.
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