On Sunday choir members, former and present, took part in a drive-by farewell with the Covid-19 pandemic's social distancing regulations in mind, leaving behind presents and flowers for the choir’s founder, Huibrie Verster. 

One by one the vehicles passed by Verster’s Dan Pienaar home in the Free State capital, thanking her for her dedication and work. 

On Sunday, the choir’s parent committee announced via a statement that the choir will continue as is, contrary to Verster’s announcement at the end of May. Choir representative Elke de Witt say they have been inundated with requests and messages via social media, telephone calls, and e-mails that the amateur children's choir should continue. She says there will be a period of transition as Verster hands over the role of leader.

The details at this stage are yet to be clarified but De Witt says the current parent committee will be dissolved and a new one will be formed and they will get the process underway of appointing a new conductor, choreographer and pianist. She says “Verster's retirement as a conductor came at a time when the world around us has changed, new leaders can take the choir's new dream further with guidance and innovation”. 

The transition into a new choir management will take place in the next two weeks, concludes De Witt.

The news of the choir’s continuation under the same name but a different leadership has drawn mixed reactions. Some have welcomed the news, others like the choir’s former parent committee member and tour organiser, Magdel Dippenaar, requests that Verster’s wishes that the choir should be disbanded must be respected. She suggests that a new choir with a new name must be established.

OFM News previously reported that Gauteng-based Naledi award nominated actor, singer and former Bloemfontein Children’s Choir head boy, Lebohang Toko, said he never thought the choir would come to an end. “Memories, lots of memories. But most importantly love. That is what you taught us, discipline and love”. Toko says he is the man that he is today because of Verster and his time in the choir. “Thank you, Juffrou Huibrie, may your new journey be as beautiful as the old one. May you soar and spread your wings even further than you ever had”.

The choir’s last performance was at the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast at Divine Restoration Church in Bloemfontein in mid-March. As has already been reported, internationals from Israel, the United States of America (USA), and France - the majority of whom came to the country to attend the church meet - later tested positive for COVID-19 following the declaration of a state of emergency by President Cyril Ramaphosa, becoming the first set of positive cases in the province.

OFM News (Olebogeng Motse, OFM News' journalist, was also a member of the Bloemfontein Children's Choir between 2004 and 2007.)