A total of 539 learners from 350 schools across eight provinces took part in the finals of the Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival – the biggest one since the Covid pandemic. Here are the winners!
Stellenbosch was abuzz with more than 500 learners from 350 schools across South Africa who traveled here to sound out and spell in the national finals of the 16th Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival.
“The spelling festival is one of the main focus areas of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and forms part of the provincial plan to improve language in the province,” explains Ebrahim Peck, the WCED’s chief education specialist for the intermediate and senior phases. “The spelling festival is one of the most important points of contact and interaction with Stellenbosch University’s (SU) WOW initiative. We are proud to have been involved for many years.”
The spelling festival is the flagship project of Words Open Worlds (WOW), an empowerment initiative through language and culture projects at the SU Division for Social Impact & Transformation.
The respective grades for each language were assigned to lecture venues at the university. This year also marked the first time that the spelling festival included an ombudsperson for each grade, to whom parents could direct their questions.
“I need to make sure that no mistakes slip through. If there’s a parent who doesn’t agree with something, they approach me and we resolve it,” explains Denise Priga-Ritter, ombudsperson for the Grade 1s.
All the officials of the spelling festival are teachers from across the country. “Everyone working here must make them feel at home so the children can simply enjoy it. All the officials must be caring, because these are parents whose children are here – they and the teachers had to make many sacrifices,” says Gail Saaiman, spelling festival coordinator for the Grade 1 class.
“I’ve gained quite a few wrinkles at WOW, but I enjoy it immensely,” she says.
Fiona van Kerwel, WOW Manager, emphasises the importance of the spelling festival being a festive experience for the young participants. “Not only do we sharpen their language skills, but we are also building their self-confidence. We expose them to opportunities at Stellenbosch University and want to introduce it to them as a friendly environment – one where they have support.”
“We are grateful for the hard work of everyone involved, which ensured that the spelling festival ran smoothly – to all officials, students, staff, sponsors, and especially thanks to our WOW learners who work throughout the year and travel from all over to be here.”
Frank Louw, Project Manager of the Sanlam Foundation, adds: “It is very rewarding to see how the children participate from the start of the spelling festival to where they are today at the national finals.”
Next year, we’ll spell again!
Here is a list of winners:
Afrikaans
Grade 1: Nick Olivier from Kenhardt Primary, Northern Cape
Grade 2: Damien Swartz from St John’s Primary, Northern Cape
Grade 3: Chadia Fransman from Prins Albert Primary, Western Cape
Grade 4: Lameequa Andries from Prins Albert Primary, Western Cape
Grade 5: Gideon Verster from Jordanië Primary, Free State
Grade 6: Rania Fransen from Prins Albert Primary, Western Cape
Grade 7: Ruan Maartens from Fairland Primary School, Gauteng
Grade 8: Chandré Vister from Zwartberg High School, Western Cape
Grade 9: Jané Stolper from Upinton High School, Northern Cape
Grade 10: Venecia Cornelius from Saxonsea Secondary, Western Cape
isiXhosa
Grade 6: Bongani Iminathi from Mbekweni Primary, Western Cape
Grade 7: Eminathi Sefa from Alfred Stamper Primary, Western Cape
Grade 8: Lisakhayna Gigi from Sophumelela High School, Western Cape
English
Grade 4: Qhakazile Khumalo from Kanonkop Primary, Western Cape
Grade 5: Shandu Matumbu from Louis Trichardt Primary, Limpopo
Grade 7: Leigh-Gaynon Adams from Perde Eiland Primary, Northern Cape
Grade 9: Husnaa Kapery from Nasruddin Islamic High School, Eastern Cape
Read more about WOW here.
