A friend of the choir, Innes Benade who came to wish them a blessed tour in Europe, said a fervent prayer: "Please Lord, let that stupid passport just resurface..."
While the Southern Cape Children’s Choir sang their achingly beautiful Nkosi Sepia, the organisers continued their desperate search for the passport. Tait said he had handed over documents to various people, and in the process his passport had inadvertently gone missing. Looking stricken, Tait continued to retrace his every move. The ACSA officials at the airport checked their security camera footage to see if he had perhaps dropped this important document somewhere.
Eventually, after having exhausted all avenues, Tait decided to embark with the first group of children on the 1Time flight to Johannesburg, where the search would continue. It is thought that when he handed over documentation, it may have been stowed in somebody’s luggage. Children were ordered by their choir master, Jan-Erik Swart to look everywhere.
Tait was in charge of the entire financial arrangement of the tour, including the exchange formalities, and pocket money for all the children. The organisers said it would almost be unthinkable to travel without him. Years of planning and fundraising has gone into the tour. After their departure for Johannesburg, attempts were made to obtain a passport through the South African embassy, but the bitterly disappointed Tait had to hear that it was impossible to replace the visas at such short notice. It was a double blow for he had been counting on accompanying his two daughters who are also choir members. He then handed over the financial management to Pieter Pepler who is part of the tour group and choir manager.
Parents who had come to see their children off, said the tour was a dream come true and for many a first time out of the country.
One of the highlights of the 66-member choir’s multi-cultural exchange tour to Germany, Belgium and Switzerland from 1 to 15 October, is performing in a lunch time concert in the Antwerp Cathedral. They will do six formal concerts.
The children are accompanied by eight parents and seven organisers.
One of the parents, Naomi Kroutz was at the George Airport to bid her daughter Krischka farewell. Krischka is the third family member that has had the privilege to be part of a South Cape Children’s Choir overseas tour. Her other two siblings, Toschke was the headgirl in 1999, and after that it was Veruschka who toured as a choir member.
The choir swayed rhythmically to Nkosi Sikilel’ iAfrika and Karookind and were enthusiastically waved off by family and friends.
Happy arrival
On arrival at Oliver Tambo Airport on Friday, a crowd thronged around to enjoy their joyful impromptu concert. The tour group left for Frankfort on an Airbus A380-800 where on arrival on Saturday, they had the exhilarating experience to do a day tour of castle cities of Germany. A highlight was visiting the medieval town, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where they gave a performance on the staircase of the historic Rathaus (Stadsaal) built in 1250.
In Heidelberg the choir received a festive welcome at the St. Georg Katholische Kirche in Bensheim. After delicious snacks the children participated in a choir workshop where local German songs, African songs and steps were performed. A long day ended with a CD recording for the German Educational Department which will be used in German schools.
On Monday the journey continued to Switzerland and Lake Constance.
 (Small)(1).jpg)
Elated Southern Cape Children’s Choir members on the runway at George Airport, ready to depart, the crisis of the missing passport momentarily forgotten. Photo: Elmine Botha
 (Small).jpg)
.jpg)
Die koor het na Heidelberg vertrek, waar hulle ‘n feestelike verwelkoming by die St. Georg Katholische Kirche ontvang het.
ARTICLE: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
