Sanlam and the Motsepe Foundation celebrated youth excellence at the 2026 ABC Motsepe South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) National Championships, which concluded at Moreleta Kerk in Pretoria earlier this month after four days of world-class school choral music from across South Africa’s nine provinces.
This year’s championship marked 10 years of the Motsepe Foundation’s partnership with the Department of Basic Education, and saw Sanlam take ownership of the Champ of Champs category, an elite tier reserved for school choirs with a proven record of national excellence and aggregate scores of 80% and above in the Secondary A category at previous national championships.
The seven schools that competed in the 2026 Champ of Champs category represented years of sustained choral excellence, having distinguished themselves as the country’s top-performing school choirs. The finalists included Bizana Senior Secondary School from the Eastern Cape, Empangeni High School from KwaZulu-Natal, and Bambanani High School from Pongola, among other outstanding schools from across South Africa. Empangeni High School emerged as the 2026 Champ of Champs winner, successfully defending their title to become back-to-back champions.
Sanlam’s investment in the Champ of Champs category went beyond naming rights. In partnership with the Department of Basic Education, Sanlam committed R100 000 in practical infrastructure to the winning school, whether through a refurbished library, water storage, books, or a music room. Learners and conductors also received branded recognition items to mark their achievement.
“It is with deep gratitude that the Motsepe Foundation marks a decade of investment in the ABC Motsepe SASCE,” said Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Co-Founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation. “Over 10 years, we have witnessed South African talent rise to extraordinary heights, with many of these young artists beginning their journey on this very stage. Music has told the world of our struggles, our hopes, and our brilliance. It is an honour to be part of championing the voices of young people who will become the artists of tomorrow, and we are proud to do so alongside a partner like Sanlam.”
The 2026 Champ of Champs drew competitors from KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, North West, and Mpumalanga. Each school represented years of sustained excellence and the communities that made it possible. For Sanlam, the investment was personal.
Bongani Madikiza, CEO of Sanlam Retail Mass, said: “I have seen what it takes to build a choir like the ones that competed on that stage. It takes a conductor who gives up weekends. It takes learners who rehearse through winter. It takes a school community that believes music matters even when there are a hundred other things competing for time and resources. Sanlam invests in the Champ of Champs because we believe in that kind of commitment. We recognise it because it is the same commitment that builds financial resilience, and it deserves to be rewarded.”
As the Eisteddfod concluded, the 2026 Kay Motsepe Schools Championship will continue with Netball in August and Football in October. Together, Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation and the Department of Basic Education used the platform to recognise young talent, strengthen school communities, and create lasting opportunities beyond the stage.
