The Spirit Of Praise All Stars show rolled into Middelburg, Mpumalanga, delivering far more than a typical stage-and-sound experience. Gospel fans packed the Steve Tshwete Banquet Hall for a night centered on worship, praise, and standout performances from some of South Africa’s most celebrated gospel voices.
Attendees made the trip from across the province—and even further—drawn by the event’s big anticipation. The gathering also marked Spirit Of Praise’s first major All Stars installment in Mpumalanga.
As soon as the performers took their places on stage, the venue came alive with cheers, heartfelt cries, and a wave of passionate worship. Fans sang along to beloved gospel tracks, fully immersed in the moment.
For a short spell, the energy paused when a technical problem interrupted Zaza Mokhethi’s opening set, forcing the artists to step away from the stage. The sound issue lasted for nearly 30 minutes.
But rather than allowing disappointment to settle in, the crowd turned the banquet hall into something that felt like a church service.
People continued worshipping side by side, singing familiar songs in unison while they waited for the technical problem to be sorted.
Speaking at the event, Leah Martha Mabuza—Mpumalanga MEC for Culture, Sport and Recreation—praised both the production and the attitude displayed by attendees.
“The show is beautiful. For the fact that we have a visitation in the Mpumalanga province from the Spirit of Praise, and for the first time in the province, that’s an indication that the province is growing,” she said.
She also pointed to the importance of hosting a major event in Middelburg rather than the province’s capital city.
“Most of these events and the facilities—at least the bigger ones—are on the Mbombela side of Mpumalanga. But then we have the banquet hall, which we believe can host even bigger events, as we see today. So I’m very much excited,” she added.
When reflecting on the technical disruption, Mabuza said the audience’s response became one of the evening’s most unforgettable highlights.
“The people stood out and continued to celebrate, continued to worship. Their resilience showed that indeed they wanted this thing and were willing to wait for whatever reason,” she said.
“They did not throw bottles. They did not shout at anybody. They just continued to worship. That’s what really stood out for me,” Mabuza continued.
Asked which performers stood out most to her, the MEC explained that picking a single favorite was difficult because she regularly listens to the artists’ music. Still, she reserved special praise for Takie Ndou.
“Takie, Takie. Hey, Takie. Yeah, that young man. Highly gifted,” she said.
She also stressed that gospel musicians keep playing an important part in bringing comfort and lifting spirits during difficult periods.
“They are here to heal our spirit. They are here to remind us that God still exists in spite of every challenge and difficulty that communities and families are faced with,” she said.
Mabuza made it clear that she would not make any changes to the event’s structure or outcome.
“I would change nothing. I would definitely change nothing. I would have it the way it is,” she said.
Executive Mayor of Middelburg within the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, Mhlonishwa Masilela, was also present and offered an apology for the sound interruption.
“I wanted to apologise for the technical issue where the sound went off for almost 30 minutes. It was not on our side, but we believe that people have enjoyed the event,” he told Drum.
Even with the disruption, Masilela highlighted the positive economic impact the event delivered for the municipality, noting that many visitors arranged accommodation locally.
“As Mpumalanga and as the Executive Mayor, I am so happy and so glad that people have booked to sleep here. That will create more opportunities for our people,” he said.
The mayor also shared that the municipality is planning for even larger gatherings going forward, including the planned opening of the new Radisson Blu hotel in July.
He further reassured guests that safety and infrastructure upgrades remain key priorities, pointing out that surveillance cameras and backup generators are already in place to support big events held at the venue.
