WESTVILLE Senior Primary School (WSPS) recently welcomed distinguished guests to honour Ashton Singh, WSPS Class of 2025, for placing second in the Junior Division of the eighth African Spelling Bee in Harare, Zimbabwe, in March 2026.

Despite a light morning drizzle, the occasion was brightened by the appearance of a double rainbow as Heidi Heather-Clark, acting principal of Westville Senior Primary, welcomed dignitaries from the Department of Education, as well as the principals of neighbouring schools, Sharon Jenkins of Westville Junior Primary and Graham Steele of Westville Boys’ High School.

Ashton’s achievement helped Team SA secure first place on the continent. In July, Ashton and his teammates will travel to Shanghai, China, to represent Africa at the World Spelling Bee Championship.

Also in attendance were Roger and Gertrude Dickinson, the Gauteng-based co-founders of the South African Spelling Bee, who recently partnered with the Department of Basic Education in this ambitious initiative.

Roger explained that the competition is conducted at the highest level, with entrants tested in all 12 official South African languages, including South African Sign Language, which was recognised as an official language in 2023.

Ashton attributed his success to his early love of reading, which laid the foundation for his fascination with words. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunities the platform has provided for him and other young South Africans who are willing to participate and commit themselves fully to the competition.

His mother, Anisha, who coaches him daily, shared that “Ashton can now confidently hold basic conversations with South Africans in their mother tongues.

“My son would not have been the Spelling Champion today, if it was not for the encouragement of Mrs Nyman, our library teacher who invited him to join the Spelling Bee team.”

The KZN MEC for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, described the achievement of Ashton and Team South Africa as “not only significant for us in KwaZulu-Natal, but for the entire country”.

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