Durban - Three-year-old DJ Arch Jnr, real name Oratilwe Hlongwane, the winner of this year’s SA’s Got Talent, may have achieved an astounding success, but such extreme competition could devastate a child if winning at any cost is stressed.
That is according to Pietermaritzburg psychologist Royada Omar, who said there could be a psychological impact if he were publicly humiliated.
“This would undermine his self-confidence. It is also important for parents and the community to be caring and loving towards him and other competitors, to teach Oratilwe that the feelings of people are much more important than a talent show,” she said.
Hlongwane, who has been labelled “the world’s youngest DJ”, amazed people with his talent in the competition. He won on Sunday night and took home a whopping R500 000.
Omar said at the age of three a child was unaware of how to deal with competition and winning. “Competitiveness is not a natural instinct of a child, it is learnt from their environment and social interaction. According to their development, they may be unable to work well in a team or handle defeat gracefully. For a three-year-old, competing in a talent show is just a means of play,” she said.
Omar said DJ Arch Jnr had benefited by participating in the show. “He has learnt his own abilities and limitations, enhanced his popularity, learnt how to follow the rules of a game, learnt how to perform before a group,” she said.
On Wednesday, social media were abuzz when his father hit back at claims that his son’s set was fake.
He wrote on DJ Arch Jnr’s Facebook account: “I am sure you have came across a picture saying ‘no audio out cables, so the mix was fake’… We had to go with the computers audio out, but it makes no difference really.”
The Mercury