Nyanga learner represents team SA at African Spelling Bee in Uganda
17 October 2019
Unamandla Nontswabo, a Grade 7 learner at Liwa Primary School in Nyanga, will be representing South Africa at the 4th African Spelling Bee in Uganda this weekend.
It is the first time that the Western Cape qualifies for the African Spelling Bee.
In 2018, Liwa Primary School won the Growsmart literacy competition, beating 160 other schools in the Western Cape finals. Unamandla qualified for the African Spelling Bee after a stellar performance at the finals of the Mzansi Spelling Bee earlier this month.
A total of 108 champion spellers from 18 African countries will be represented at this year’s competition.
Liwa Primary School Principal, Mlungisi Fani, said the news that Unamandla qualified for the African Spelling Bee was exciting for the school since it is located in a disadvantaged area. “It shows that something good can come out of Nyanga and Philippi, the area where Unamandla stays, and that the learners are not defined by the fact that these areas are notorious for crime and poverty.”
Unamandla’s teacher, Andrew Gumindoga, said after the Growsmart literacy competition last year, Head of Education, Brian Schreuder, identified Unamandla as someone with a bright future ahead of her. Gumindoga said he is proud to say that Schreuder was right and that the school’s hard work to promote literacy is paying off.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/SpellitSA/videos/pcb.3048465605194623/816172038785149/?type=3&theater for a video of Unamandla’s school friends helping her prepare for the African Spelling Bee.