Police officer and Idols winner Thapelo Molomo was on the cusp of national fame in 2013 when he chose instead to focus on his psychology studies. Eight years later, his patience paid off and his dream of becoming one of South Africa’s biggest stars came true.
On November 13 the Limpopo-born singer was crowned the winner of Idols SA season 18, walking away with a prize package worth more than R1m.
Molomo, a warrant officer stationed at Brits in the North West, knelt down for a short prayer after being crowned.
“I was praying and meditating, making sure I uplifted my spirit first,” said Molomo, whose job is to provide counselling to police members and their families.
The 29-year-old has had several flirtations with fame, but his passage to stardom started at the age of 12 when he approached musician Motjatji Twala at Upper Room Ministries in Midrand to mentor him.
Twala taught him musical essentials, including understanding harmony, different vocal parts and singing on key, until she felt he was ready to swim with the sharks.
“I invited him to join my choir, whose members also fell in love with him. He's grown so much vocally. Each year he sounds different and the Idols SA journey took him completely outside his comfort zone. The growth has been enormous and amazing to witness,” said Twala.
Molomo has been described as zealous and committed in realising his dream of becoming a singer.
In 2009 he started a choir with a friend, Thulani Ndhlovu, dubbing it Total Praise. It would later go on to be called Tembisa Gospel Group.
In 2013 he got his first real opportunity to burst into the spotlight — he was selected for season 1 of Mzansi Magic’s Clash of the Choirs.
While the flashing lights of fame have tempted many before him, Molomo decided to focus on completing his honours degree in psychology at the University of Venda.
“I had to think of the future. Clash of the Choirs was a seasonal competition and it was a choir, not the space of a solo artist, meaning the opportunity was limited. Education was a much better priory for me than the competition.”
But he could not keep fame at the door for long. A year later he was chosen as a backing vocalist for popular gospel group Spirit of Praise’s fifth project.
The group's marketing and events manager, Matthew Nkabinde, first met Molomo during his audition at Baseline in Newtown, Johannesburg, in 2014.
“When someone joins a choir you realise that the end goal is for them to be solo acts. He's always been a good tenor and had a vibrant personality, but still worked well with others in the choir.”
Molomo also provided backing vocals for jazz musicians Putuma Tiso and Sabata Masoka.
His Idols winnings include R350,000 in a Standard Bank MyMo account, R300,000 from Spotify, R350,000 from Mzansi Magic and access to a Standard Bank wealth manager.
He also received the latest Toyota Starlet, R100,000 in clothing from Truworths, R85,000 worth of musical equipment from Yamaha and a recording contract with Kalawa Jazmee Records.
The instant millionaire now wants to purchase a home for himself and his daughter.
“I plan to touch lives and get myself property. I need to leave a legacy for my baby. That's really important for me.”
Molomo still plans to juggle his passion for serving people with his love for music.
“The police service has been a family to me, very supportive. I am not going anywhere. I'm going to stay there and do my work and continue with music at the same time because I am passionate about both.”
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