Dana blamed for choir's failure

MEMBERS of the Eastern Cape choir eliminated on the Clash of the Choirs reality show on Sunday blame their choirmaster for their failure.

The choir, which was headed by the Eastern Cape's own music sensation Simphiwe Dana, was trailing in the bottom two for three weeks before they were eliminated on Sunday.

They were bottom alongside the Western Cape choir headed by Ziyon of Liquideep, but judges Anele Mdoda, Lindelani Mkhize and Rebecca Malope decided to send Dana's choir home instead.

During the elimination, Malope said she felt Dana had not worked as hard as the other choirmasters. Mdoda said the choir was not as rehearsed as the others and there was a divide between Dana and her group, while Mkhize said the choir was not well prepared and not working together.

During an interview after the results on Sunday, Dana said she had failed her choir.

The sentiment was shared by choir members. Zintle Ngcapu said if Dana had given herself time to get to know the choir from the beginning, they would not have been sent home.

"She had her problems and she was busy with her shows. She would arrive at the last minute and change things," Ngcapu said.

Nkosi Mtshali said there was also internal fighting among the choir during rehearsals which affected their team work. "Simphiwe made it clear the infighting was not her problem. Other choirmasters were bonding with their choirs." - Poliswa Plaatjie