BOTLHALE Boikanyo won the hearts of South Africans from her very first appearance on SA's Got Talent in September.

Last week, the 11-year-old poet was crowned the winner of the third season of the show.

The little girl, from Mahikeng, North West, beat ballroom dancers Cameron and Donlynn - and the PJ Twins - to win R250,000 and a public address system.

The money will be held in a trust fund until Botlhale turns 18.

She did receive the PA system.

Her parents, Lebone and Mumsy Boikanyo, are happy their daughter won.

Botlhale told Sowetan her mother was her true mentor when she started writing and reading poetry as a 6-year-old.

On winning the competition on Thursday night, she said: "I had faith that I would win because I was fasting and praying all the time for God to put me in the finals."

She said poets Lebo Mashile and Ntsiki Mazwai were her chief source of inspiration.

"I love their poems and how they narrate them with so much passion."

Botlhale performs at schools, churches, weddings and at government-sponsored events.

"I performed a poem at the finale written by my mother, which took me about two days to rehearse and recite perfectly. It was about moral degeneration and asking people what has happened to the spirit of ubuntu."

Her mother said Botlhale had always been attracted to the arts.

Apart from poetry, Botlhale enjoys reading, visual arts, dancing and singing.

This article was first published in the printed newspaper on 22 October 2012

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