Louis Trichardt has a rising star who made it through to the top 15 of the popular Idols competition. He is the 29-year-old Kahludi Happy Malele.

Kahludi started his journey in Polokwane, where he was awarded a golden ticket, together with nine other contestants. Out of the thousands of contestants who auditioned in Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba stadium two weeks ago, they were the only ones who made enough of an impression on the judges to be allowed through to the next round.

The golden ticket meant that Happy proceeded to Sun City, where the rest of the contestants with golden tickets countrywide were to compete against each other for the Top 15 slots. After what is known by the contestants as the "hell" week in Sun City, he managed to secure a spot in the Top 15. From this coming Sunday onwards, Kahludi will be part of the live shows.

Kahludi is a very talented and committed person, whose fate now depends on the people´s votes, as he has the potential to be the next South African Idol. He is the only one left in the competition representing Limpopo. "This could be our chance to prove that Limpopo does have talent," said Kahludi.

Judging from the comments on the DSTV Idols website, Kahludi has already impressed a lot of fans. "Kahludi ... Thumbs up 2u man. I´m voting 4u. The guy with the best voice," writes Althea Reid from Johannesburg.

Kahludi has been living in Louis Trichardt since 2004. He has been working with young people in and around Louis Trichardt. He worked full time as worship leader in Amazing Grace Apostolic Faith Mission at Madombidzha Village.

He is currently pursuing his music career in Gauteng, studying sound engineering at the Academy of Sound Engineering in Auckland Park.

You can watch him on DSTV channels 199 for Idols Extra daily and on Sundays, on Mzanzi´s 107 channel. For those who want to vote for him, the voting details will be on Sunday’s show.