Mpumalanga’s Stintile Secondary School claimed top honours in the four-day 2026 Heritage Education Schools Outreach Programme National Camp.

Four learners – Lebogang Mathonsi, Kaylor Sithole, Avumile Dlamini and Nompilo Mdoda – and their teacher, Seneme Ndlovu, beat stiff competition from finalists representing all nine provinces during a week-long camp held at the iconic Cradle of Humankind in Johannesburg.

The national competition, hosted by the National Heritage Council from October 1 to 4, brought together top provincial teams for a week packed with heritage education, excursions, cultural exchange and rigorous academic presentation.

This championship team showcased superior research, critical thinking and an exceptional grasp of South Africa’s cultural heritage, and each learner won a laptop.

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Teacher praises learning experience

Ndlovu said the camp was a great learning experience rather than just a competition.

“We get to engage with other learners and learn ways of how they think and form relationships,” she said. “It was our first time making it to the nationals and our group represented Mpumalanga very well. The competition provides a platform for young people to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of South Africa’s diverse cultural and natural heritage, while learning from and engaging with learners from different provinces and communities.”

MEC hails provincial pride

Celebrating the victory, Mpumalanga MEC for Education Lindi Masina extended heartfelt congratulations to the learners, school leadership, parents and departmental officials who supported the team.

“This outstanding achievement is a moment of great pride for the entire province,” said Masina. “This is the Mpumalanga we are building – a province where education does not only prepare learners to pass examinations, but equips them to understand their history, appreciate their heritage and confidently shape the future.”