Maphokwane High celebrates spelling bee triumph
Maphokwane High learners win the Kingsley Spelling Bee in Polokwane, with one set to represent SA in Botswana next year.
PHALABORWA – Four learners from Maphokwane High School proudly represented their school after winning the prestigious Kingsley Spelling Bee competition, held at the Polokwane Library on Saturday, September 20.
The talented team proudly brought home a trophy after competing against top spellers from Gauteng and Botswana.
The star learners were Boitumelo Mokgwathi (Gr 11), Blessings Bevhula (Gr 10), Boitumelo Mthembu (Gr 10), and Suprise Nkoane (Gr 8). Among them, Blessings Bevhula excelled by taking second place overall, earning himself a spot to represent the school and South Africa in Botswana in March next year.
The competition began with the preliminary round on Saturday, April 19, at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Polokwane campus. Each grade, from Gr 8 to 11, had three spellers participating, and eight learners from Maphokwane managed to advance to the second round. Ultimately, only four made it to the finals.
The learners’ success was guided by their dedicated coaches, Nimrod Pilusa and Muriel Maphange, who worked tirelessly to prepare the team.
“Both teachers and learners were very happy as they supported us from the start,” said Pilusa.
He explained that preparation required teamwork and sacrifice: “We worked hard as a team, with the support of our departmental head. Sometimes we practiced until very late. It was not easy because learners also had to prepare for other tests and schoolwork,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the hard work paid off, leaving the school bursting with pride.
