A total of 522 learners from 303 schools across eight provinces participated in the national finals of the Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival at Stellenbosch University this weekend. Here are the winners!
Stellenbosch was abuzz on Saturday 3 October with more than 500 learners from 303 schools across South Africa came together to celebrate their spelling prowess in the national finals of the 17th Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival.
As the largest spelling festival in South Africa, the event saw learners competing in three languages: Afrikaans (grade 1 to 10), English (grade 4 to 9), and isiXhosa (grade 5 to 8).
“The primary goal of the spelling festival is to foster learners’ self-confidence, linguistic skills, and pride in their mother tongues,” says Fiona van Kerwel, WOW Manager. However, the top three achievers in each grade also competed for exciting prizes. These included cash, cellphones, books, medals, lapel pins, and mascots – with first-place winners receiving Stellenbosch University’s (SU) official mascot, Pokkel! Furthermore, all participating learners and officials received a certificate of participation. The presiding officials comprised educators, subject advisors, and education specialists from WOW-affiliated schools.
Frank Louw, outgoing Programme Manager of Auxiliary Projects at the Sanlam Foundation, who has been involved with the spelling festival since 2010, remarked: “It’s been an incredible journey. WOW became my baby. I would simply like to express my profound gratitude for the participation and support of our learners, parents, educators, education departments, the WOW team, and the university over all these years. I confidently hand over the reins to Meshaye Sylvester, who will be assuming responsibility for this project.”
The Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival is a flagship project of Words Open Worlds (WOW), an empowerment initiative through language and culture projects within SU’s Division of People, Culture, and Transformation. This year, the empowerment initiative recorded 2 208 registrations across the three participating languages.
Ray-Ann Sedres, Head of the Sanlam Foundation, reiterated their dedication to, and passion for, the spelling festival. “We are in it for the long term, which is why we have supported this initiative for nearly 17 years. Therefore, I look forward to next year to see how our grade 8 learners progress to grade 9, and so forth, enabling them to continue cultivating a love for words and reading, and to return to celebrate their subsequent academic milestones.”
In turn, Fiona van Kerwel extended her gratitude to the sponsors, namely Sanlam and Jonathan Ball Publishers, as well as SU.
“You know what make it easy working with sponsors and donors? Having a relationship with them. So we look forward to continuing on that nore,” she said to the new Programme Manager of the Sanlam Foundation’s Education Portfolio.
We look forward to spelling together next year again!
Here is a list of winnes (winners’ photos are at the bottom of the page)
Afrikaans
Gr. 1: Payton Bruintjies, Botrivier Primer, Wes-Kaap
Gr. 2: Maria Oelofse, Oranje-Noord Primêr, Noord-Kaap
Gr. 3: Kurshnee Kammies, Prins Albert Primêr, Wes-Kaap
Gr. 4: Lihanza Oosthuizen, Laerskool Volskenk, Wes-Kaap
Gr. 5: Cay-Lynn Lambrecht, Truida Kestell Primêr, Vrystaat
Gr. 6: Sonika Kleynhans, Laerskool Handhaaf, Oos-Kaap
Gr. 7: Isabella Verwey, Laerskool Louw Geldenhuys, Gauteng
Gr. 8: Rakeen Hendriks, Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck, Wes-Kaap
Gr. 9: Wisdom Maparara, Wilgerivier Hoërskool, Vrystaat
Gr. 10: Lize Pelser, Helpmekaar Kollege, Gauteng
isiXhosa
Gr. 5: Ukho Cithi, Naphakade Primary, Wes-Kaap
Gr. 6: Inothando Moyakhe, Mbekweni Primary, Wes-Kaap
Gr. 7: Amahle Volsak, Naphakade Primary, Wes-Kaap
Gr. 8: Amila Mayibenje, Injongo High School, Wes-Kaap
English
Gr. 4: Swazi Hobongwana, Despatch Preparatory, Oos-Kaap
Gr. 5: Blake Fisher, College Hill Primary, Oos-Kaap
Gr. 6: Charique Coetzee, Laerskool Rustenburg, Noordwes
Gr. 7: Kieran September, William Lloyd Primary, Wes-Kaap
Gr. 8: Shenique Faas, Oranje-Suid Primary, Noord-Kaap
Gr. 9: Christel Manjoro, Apex Stellenbosch, Wes-Kaap
Read here about the work WOW does to empower school communities and to give our young learners a chance at a brighter future.
