Recently she won a provincial Spelling Bee competition in Polokwane and will represent the province and her school in Cape Town in October. Last year Tsembhekile won a national Spelling Bee and was chosen to represent the province and her school at an intercontinental event in Dubai in September this year. The 12-year-old student from Vurhonga Primary School in Giyani Section-E said she was super excited about beating grade 9 learners.

“Last year I was disappointed when I realised that the competition was dominated by grade 4 students. Being in Grade 6 then, I felt embarrassed that I was the tallest person among the participants.
“However, this time I think the competition was fair because I competed against grade 7’s up to grade 9 students,” she explained. Her excitement, however, is overshadowed by the possibility of her parents are not able to finance her trip to the upcoming intercontinental competition in September to be held in Dubai, where she is ranked third.

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Her principal, Angel Machaba, said they were trying their best to find sponsors elsewhere as they were not allowed to use the school budget to fund her trip. “We wrote letters to everyone including the Department of Education and the municipality.” She also asked for the help of other principals. “We don’t know what the reaction will be, but we hope for the best,” she said. Meanwhile, Tshembhekile’s mother, Ntsako Mabunda, has placed her hopes in her new book that was recently released to help raise funds.

The book is currently promoted in the local primary schools around Giyani.
“I urge people to buy it so that I can use the funds to cover the cost of her trip,” she said.
Those interested to sponsor Tshembhekile’s trip can contact Ntsako Mabunda at 073 785 8276.