Thami vies for golden ticket at Idols

ANOTHER heart-warming story has graced the Idols SA stage as former Zululander, Thami Shobede sings his way into the limelight.

The 27-year-old military Reserve Force member took part in his second audition for another shot at becoming South Africa’s idol, but in more ways than one.

He wowed the judges in Pretoria with Adele’s Make you feel my love, which represented the unspeakable love he has for his sisters.

‘The type of love I always wish I had received as a kid,’ said Thami.

Growing up around the Mandeni, Mtubatuba and Nkwalini areas, Thami joined the military to escape his poor background.

After his mother left to seek work in Johannesburg, he was left to bring himself up from the tender age of eight.

He soon moved in with relatives in Empangeni where he earned money by pushing trolleys at a hardware store.

‘I joined the military because I had been home unemployed for more than a year and I was tired of part-time jobs,’ said Thami.

He underwent military training in Lephalale, Limpopo, after being based in Pretoria.

While there, Shobede learnt how to play the bagpipes and earned a place for himself in history.

‘I have always been interested in bringing new flavour to music and it was an opportunity to become the fourth black person in the South African military to do it.’

Although his mother’s absence made a huge impact on his life, her ability to sing sparked his interest.

‘My love for music also came from the rural schools I attended, as music is the foundation of all learning there,’ said Thami, who jumped between a total of six primary and high schools.

His two sisters live with relatives in KZN and are going through the similar troubling experiences he went through as a child.

‘I want to provide them with a normal childhood and an even bigger chance of making it in life.’

‘So many children in South Africa go through this, and that is why I’m hoping people will support me and help me make my dreams come true.’