Mamelodi hosts first-ever Spelling Bee in 3 SA indigenous languages
The competition serves as a motivation to other learners who are struggling in home language subjects to improve their performance so that they be selected to participate in this competition in the future.
A youth organisation organised the first-ever SA indigenous language Spelling Bee competition in Mamelodi on September 22.
Eye of Hope organised the event in celebration of Heritage month at Stanza Bopape community hall.
Kutloano Malahlela of Eye of Hope said the competition was mainly in Sepedi, IsiZulu and Xitsonga.
He said those languages were chosen because local schools offered them as subjects.
“This event was inspired by the growing celebration of Heritage month in SA and as an organisation, we wanted to celebrate this year’s Heritage month with something new,” said Malahlela.
The schools Bula Dikgoro, Mogale, Zakhele, Nwa’ Vangeni and Emasangweni primary schools – chose their best learners and 45 grades 3 to 7 entered.
“The preservation of African languages is important; we need to ensure that these languages don’t cease to exist in the future. The competition serves as a motivation to other learners who are struggling in home language subjects to improve their performance so that they be selected to be part of this competition in the future,” he said.
Spelling Bee competitions promote comprehensive reading and build the intellect in learners from an early grade.
He said it is important for learners especially those enrolled in township-based schools to be encouraged to participate in such programmes so that they be protected from social ills such as substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.
Tebogo Gunya, a Grade 3 learner from Bula-Dikgoro, was announced winner of Champion speller and received a major trophy, a certificate and sefoka sa dikgosi medal, which is an artificial animal skin while the first runner-up received a trophy.
Gunya will further receive stationery, a school uniform for the 2023 academic year and a book covering session for her school.
The champion speller will also be the ambassador for the Moralleng wa Dinonwane reading campaign.
The top 5 will be offered a sponsored tour to Ditsong Cultural Museum on October 31 where they will be exposed to the cultural history of South Africa.
Eye of Hope is a youth educational organisation rooted in creating programmes that will better the lives of the poor.
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