Empangeni High leads KZN to national choral glory
The province finished first overall, collecting 11 trophies across multiple categories during the prestigious competition held in Pretoria.
KwaZulu-Natal has once again cemented its reputation as South Africa’s choral powerhouse after emerging as the top-performing province at the 2026 ABC Motsepe South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) National Championship.
The province finished first overall, collecting 11 trophies across multiple categories during the prestigious competition, held at Moreleta Kerk in Pretoria from June 30 to July 3.
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Leading the province’s success was Empangeni High School, which was crowned the overall Champ of Champs after scoring an outstanding 88 points.
Lihlithemba High School also delivered a standout performance, winning first place in the Mixed Choirs category.
KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka travelled to Pretoria to support the provincial team as learners competed against the country’s top school choirs and soloists from all nine provinces.
The KZN Department of Education congratulated all the schools that represented the province, saying their performances reflected the province’s continued investment in music education, co-curricular arts programmes and learner talent development.
Beyond its overall victory, KZN enjoyed success across several individual categories.
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In the Mezzo Soprano category, the province finished second behind Limpopo, while in the Baritone Solo category, KwaZulu-Natal claimed first place ahead of the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.
KZN also secured second place in the Trio category, with the Western Cape taking top honours.
The province dominated the prestigious Champ of Champs category, with Empangeni High School taking first place and Zama High School, from the Amajuba District, finishing third.
The Western Cape placed second.
Adding to the province’s impressive haul, Zama High School also produced the competition’s Best Conductor.
The Department of Education said the province’s learners also excelled in primary and secondary school choir categories, special schools and solo performances, contributing to KZN’s overall tally of 11 trophies.
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The latest triumph builds on KZN’s long-standing record of success at the national championships, reinforcing its status as one of South Africa’s leading provinces for school choral music.
According to the department, extensive preparations were made ahead of this year’s championships, with systems strengthened following previous competitions to ensure schools were well prepared for the national stage.
The department congratulated every school, conductor and learner who represented KZN, saying their achievements showcased not only musical excellence but also the dedication and discipline that continue to place the province at the forefront of school choral music in South Africa.
