By Gugu Phandle
A vibrant up-and-coming East London presenter is flying the Eastern Cape flag high as one of the finalists for a popular SABC1 entertainment show.
The Mzansi Insider embarked on a nationwide online and live presenter search in August where they hoped to find a presenter for the trendy show.
The talented East London-born Zanele Potelwa rose to the occasion and charmed the judges with her 30-second online audition.
Potelwa said she found out about the competition on Twitter.
“We had the option of doing an online audition so I recorded my video and uploaded it on Twitter.”
Auditions were done in Durban, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and East London in a bid to find a new presenter to join current host Rorisang Thandekiso.
At the East London live auditions, Potelwa won an express pass by doing well in her online audition, which allowed her to skip the long queues and move straight to the judges.
“I did not even finish my link before one of the judges stopped me and told me I am through to the second round,” said Potelwa.
The show crew selected six contestants from each city and while putting them through a series of challenges, they selected a national top five and ultimately the top two.
The top two made an appearance on the live show before the directors and producers.
The former Hudson Park High pupil said she spent much of her schooldays doing public speaking, debating and acting.
“That is what I loved to do and that is what got my attention in high school rather than my academics.
“I did pass well. However, most of my time was spent doing these activities.”
After high school, Potelwa pursued a medical degree. However, she later found it was not her passion.
She has now enrolled for a BCom in economics and statistics at the University of Pretoria.
“I fell in love with entertainment when I joined the university’s radio station, Tuks FM.”
The winner will be announced this Saturday at 10am on the show. — gugup@dispatch.co.za
-Dispatch Live