Wits’ students fill Great Hall for Witsies Got Talent finale 

by | May 15, 2026

More than 3 300 students attended the university’s first Witsies Got Talent competition, where sold-out crowds, cheering audiences, and standout performances transformed the Great Hall into a celebration of student talent 

  • Ntando Qangule won the competition and R30 000, followed by Zinhle Zonke Bhebhe with R20 000 and Luke Scrase with R10 000.  
  • Singing, poetry, dance, and audience participation turned the finale into a celebration of student talent and campus life. 

Cheers echoed across the Great Hall on Saturday evening as students chanted Ntando Qangule’s name before she had even stepped onto the stage. 

Moments later, the third-year Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance student delivered the singing performance that would win her the first Witsies Got Talent title and R30 000 in prize money. 

The grand finale, hosted by Campus Housing and Residence Life on May 9, brought together the competition’s top 12 finalists after 137 students initially entered.  

Qangule, who said she had been feeling ill before the performance, credited feedback from judges in previous rounds for helping shape her final act. “Perform. You’re not just here to sing. We know you have a voice, but perform,” she said, recalling the advice she received during the competition. 

Poet Zinhle Zonke Bhebhe placed second and received R20 000, while second-year LLB student Luke Scrase secured third place and R10 000 for his tap-dancing performance. 

  • The top three winners of Witsies Got Talent 2026 pose with their prize cheques at the Great Hall on May 9. From left are third-place winner Luke Scrase, first-place winner Ntando Qangule and second-place winner Zinhle Bhebhe alongside sponsors and organisers. Photo: Asisipho Lynette Mpahleni
  • Students fill the Great Hall during the sold-out Witsies Got Talent grand finale hosted by Campus Housing and Residence Life. Photo: Asisipho Lynette Mpahleni
  • Hosts Simon Bopape (left) and Khayalethu Xaba engage the audience during the Witsies Got Talent grand finale at the Great Hall. Photo: Asisipho Lynette Mpahleni
  • From left are judges Dr Moloi, Thembisile Mathebula, Vuyolwethu Matiwane and Sibusiso Mkhize during the Witsies Got Talent grand finale at the Great Hall. Photo: Asisipho Lynette Mpahleni
  • The winner of the Wooden Mic Talent 2026, Promise Ntshudisane, known as Dese Ke Star, shakes judge Sibusiso Mkhize’s hand. Photo: Asisipho Lynette Mpahleni

One of the standout moments of the night came from Scrase’s tap dancing routine, which left judge Vuyolwethu Matiwane admitting that she had forgotten to write down a score because she was so captivated by the performance. 

“Audiences are not always open-minded enough to appreciate something like tap… but the judges and the audience really got into it, and I could not be more grateful,” Scrase later told Wits Vuvuzela. 

The finale featured performances from Angelic Voices of Buffness, Luke Scrase, Kira Attfield-Fuchs, Zinhle Zonke Bhebhe, Munei Nthai, Nandi Moyo, Asibonge Ntuli, Ogomotseng Gaonathebe, Dineo Modisane, Raiders 6, Cebisile Banda, and Ntando Qangule. 

Audience participation remained high throughout the evening as students sang, danced, and competed for prizes handed out by hosts Simon Bopape and actor Khayalethu Xaba. Fourth-year BA Theatre and Performance student Asibonge Ntuli also received a standing ovation before she even began performing her original song. 

Celebrity performances from Aymos, Soweto’s Finest, and Clemour Ngobeni added to the atmosphere as judges Dr Moloi, Vuyolwethu Matiwane, Thembisile Mathebula, and Sibusiso Mkhize evaluated performances ranging from singing and poetry to dance and visual art. 

Campus Housing and Residence Life organiser, Mr Maphumulo, said the initiative aimed to create opportunities for students beyond the classroom. 

“The talent show is critical because it addresses several issues, such as alternative entertainment, raises awareness about drug/alcohol free residence communities, and most of all, mental health. The show not only gives a platform but also allows students to have a healthy competition amongst themselves,” he said. 

Promise Ntshudisane, known as Dese Ke Star, won the Wooden Mic Talent 2026 category, a comedy-focused category created mainly for entertainment. 

Alongside cash prizes, finalists also received Pick n Pay vouchers, sponsored trips, and opportunities to perform at future university events. 

As the crowd slowly emptied from the Great Hall, students were still replaying performances, singing lyrics, and debating their favourite acts from the night. 

FEATURED IMAGE: Witsies Got Talent 2026 winners Luke Scrase, Ntando Qangule, and Zinhle Bhebhe pose with their prize cheques after the grand finale at the Great Hall. Photo: Asisipho Lynette Mpahleni

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