Kwazulu-Natal songwriter and producer Don Clarke, and lyricist Karl Bremer, have become the first South Africans to win the grand prize in the Great American Song Contest.
The duo won the award for their ode to former president Nelson Mandela, The Long Walk Is Over.
"It's a big international award with more than 1600 entrants so this is quite an honour. It's also a great way to celebrate the legacy of one of the greatest icons of the 20th century," said Clarke.
The song was written almost 10 years ago by Bremer, who sent the lyrics to Clarke. Over the years it was tweaked, forgotten, remembered, and tweaked again as the musicians pursued other things.
Last year Bremer submitted it to the judging committee of the Great American Song Contest. The pair won prizes including $1000 (R10 564), production software and industry organisation memberships.