Overstrand Mayor, Nicolette Botha-Guthrie’s pitstop at the Birkenhead Filling Station in Gansbaai recently proved serendipitous for 26-year old petrol attendant, Sherié Jansen. The chance encounter led to Sherie not only filling the official’s vehicle with fuel, but also allowed her to fill the Mayor in on the burning desire she has of becoming South Africa’s next pop Idol.
Sherié has been singing since the age of five and credits her vocal gift to her mom whom she believes also sings beautifully, albeit just to entertain their close circle at church and family functions.
Winning the Gansbaai instalment of a national talent competition co-ordinated and produced by highly acclaimed showman Rob van Vuuren, led to an appearance on SABC2’s popular Showville.
Of the experience Sherié said, “At first I could not believe that I had won. It was such an amazing feeling to get that kind of recognition and to see the joy my singing brought to people. It was also great that I got to work with seasoned performers like Rob van Vuuren and learned a lot from the voice training sessions we were given. We were even taught things like the right way to conduct ourselves at media interviews.” Hearing that Sherié is wanting to audition for the Cape Town leg of the 2016 SA Idols competition, but lacks the finances to get there, touched a chord with the Mayor who then promptly set out to secure a benefactor wil-ling to assist. Thankfully, the budding muso’s plight was heard and she is now excitedly heading towards the bright lights of the city, and hopefully even brighter lights of fame.
To that end, the Mayor exclaimed “Sherié, I am so proud of you and wish you all the best for the Idols competition. You have a wonderful spirit, and coupled with your determination to succeed can only mean great things ahead.”
Charmaine Resandt, PRO to the Executive Mayor Nicolette Botha-Guthrie
