Chinese Consulate drives education culture

Driving Education Culture short video competition hosted by Peoples' Republic of China in commemoration of 25th anniversary between China and South Africa.

July 20, 2023

Lebogang Tlou 1 minute read

Reamohetswe Articon learners perform the Marabi dance at the event.

Selected learners received awards from Consul-General Zhongdong Tang, Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane, and Free State MEC for Education Makalo Mohale for winning the Driving Education Culture Short Video Competition.

The competition was hosted in celebration of the 25th-anniversary landmark of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Peoples’ Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa.

“The competition allowed the participating high school learners to explore the rich cultural diversity that exists between our two countries, to inspire the high school students to tap into their collective creativity,” said Tang.

Antoinette Sithole and Moiloa Shai at the Driving Education Culture event

“The purpose of the competition was to further encourage out-of-the-box thinking and synergy within students, and to encourage them to demonstrate their best representation of China and South Africa through individual talents.”

The awards ceremony was held on July 14, at the Chinese Consulate-General in Sandhurst, where the overall top three winners were announced. The third-place prize went to Grade 8 learner Zamazizi Mthanti, with Reamohetswe Articon School from the Free State being awarded the second-place award. The overall winner was Grade 11 learner Thandolwethu Gwebe from Johannesburg, whose video submission was brilliantly planned out, coherent, and aesthetically superior for her use of relevant multimedia applications.

Reamohetswe Articon School receives the second-prize award from Free State communications director Howard Ndaba, and CG Zhongdong Tang.

“The purpose of education is to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Deputy Consul-General Yujiang Zhou. “The purpose of the #DrivingEducationCulture initiative is to promote success for both our countries’ learners.”

The event was well attended, mostly by learners from Reamohetswe Articon School, who performed for the guests at the reception. Reamohetswe Articon learners Itumeleng Majoro and Siyabonga Chaka took everyone’s breaths away when they sang a moving harmonic duet, which was followed by a gumboot dance accompanying Shosholoza, and several vernacular tunes. The festivities of the day also included sessions where attendants were guided in writing their names in Chinese calligraphy: among those taking part was Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane.

All the guests are welcomed to learn how to write their names in Chinese calligraphy at the event. — All the guests are welcome to learn how to write their names in Chinese calligraphy at the event.

“Let’s not be serious today,” said Chiloane. “Relax. It’s a day to celebrate. Today we are celebrating a milestone.”

The official day for the celebration of the 25th anniversary between South Africa and the Peoples’s Republic of China was celebrated officially on January 1 this year.