FIVE top junior spellers from eThekwini are heading to Sun City to represent KZN in the national finals of the Africa Spelling Bee competition this December.

@caxtonlocalmedia From Durban to Sun City! Five of eThekwini’s brightest young spellers are heading to the national finals of the Africa Spelling Bee this December. 🌍🐝 👏 Congratulations to Ashton, Nicholas, Chevelle, Kwanda & Zahra for making KZN proud! 💙 #bereamail #AfricaSpellingBee #KZNKids #SpellingBee #DurbanTalent #EducationMatters ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia

After an impressive showing at the Durban regional round of the KZN Open Spelling Bee on Saturday in Musgrave, Ashton Singh, Nicholas Murphy, Chevelle Strydom, Kwanda Maphumulo, and Zahra Moola secured their spots in the final. African Spelling Bee CEO, Roger Dickinson, praised the high standard of this year’s entries, which led to the decision to select the top five spellers for the finals in the North West province.

“This is what the Spelling Bee is about — promoting reading and learning throughout the country,” said Dickinson. “We’re giving learners a chance to shine and level the playing field. We must start believing that every child is our child and support them accordingly.”

From nearly 100 participants, Ashton Singh of Westville Senior Primary School claimed first place. No stranger to the competition, Singh’s determination stood out from the start. “Last year, I came second in the South African final, so I had to try again,” said Singh. “I was nervous and excited at first, but I got over it quickly. I’m so happy I won and can’t wait for Sun City.”

Also Read: Spell your way to success at the KwaZulu-Natal Open Spelling Bee

The young competitors were challenged with a wide range of words across different rounds of the contest. The event was supported by education-focused non-profits Nal’ibali and The LEARN Project. Roslynne Toenen of The LEARN Project said they were honoured to be involved, while Nal’ibali commended African Spelling Bee for championing literacy and learning across the country.

Looking ahead, Dickinson announced plans to grow the initiative through the creation of a Spelling Bee Alumni programme. “We’re inviting past participants to join our alumni community for free. This will open doors to various opportunities, including bursaries. We’re committed to building a better nation through education,” he said.

He also congratulated all participants and encouraged more schools and parents to get involved in the next competition.

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