Get ready for the Southern Cape Gospel Awards

GEORGE NEWS - The third annual Southern Cape Awards promises many exciting festivities this year when it takes place on Saturday 27 October at George Community Church in Rosemoor.

The awards aim to give exposure to up-and-coming gospel artists and to honour community members who are doing good in their community and change the lives of people for the better.

This year the award will honour the late Beauty Nothobile Sampo, affectionately known as Mama Sampo, who passed away early this year. Mama Sampo was a veteran of the liberation struggle against apartheid in the Southern Cape and a social activist of note. Sampo fought selflessly towards her dream of a better world, from her early days as a farm worker fighting for farm workers and dweller rights and her work as ANC councillor, to her dedicated work for landless people through the Southern Cape Land Committee (now known as Support Centre for Land Change). Sampo will be honoured along with other stalwarts such as Fikile Lubisi, former SABC news reader.

According to the founder of the awards, Andile Xelegu, the proceeds of the event will be donated to a local cancer organisation as their contribution to help to raise awareness about breast cancer.

"The awards basically honour local artists, businessmen and women, church leaders, non-government organisations, teachers and other individuals who continue to make a difference in our lives," said Xelegu.

The awards have a number of categories. The Director's Award is for people who started a business or a project, are running it well and are making a difference in the community - people who are role models in their communities.

Andile Xelegu, director of the Southern Cape Gospel Awards.

Other categories include Community Radio Station, Most Influential Young Person, Best Educator and Man and Woman of the year.

Xelegu calls upon all people of George to be part of this event by buying their tickets at any Computicket outlet for R100, VIP R150 and VVIP for R250. The event starts at 17:00 for red carpet entrance, with the main event starting at 18:00. For more information call Xelegu on 078 918 4859.

Gospel artist Bulela M performing at the Southern Cape Gospel Awards last year.