By Levy Masiteng
Six young South African spellers are representing the country at the inaugural Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai, China, after winning the continental team title earlier this year.
The learners are competing against spellers from more than 10 countries at the event, which runs from 14 to 19 July.
Team South Africa comprises Mbulelo Tolom, Ashton Singh, Rhyle Adams, Xilombe Xivuri, Ifeoma Osondo and George van Wyngaard.
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North West Education MEC Viola Motsumi wished the team well ahead of the competition.
“This is their moment to demonstrate to the world that South Africa is home to some of the finest young spellers,” Motsumi said.
Tolom, a 12-year-old Grade 7 learner at Klerksdorp Primary School, won the 2025 South African National Spelling Bee finals held at Sun City before being selected to represent the country at continental and international level.
The six learners previously represented South Africa at the eighth African Spelling Bee in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 18 to 21 March.
South Africa finished first in the overall team rankings, ahead of Nigeria in second place and hosts Zimbabwe in third. Eleven African countries sent six spellers each to the championship, while Singh finished second in the junior division.
South African Spelling Bee chief executive Roger Dickinson said after the continental victory that the Shanghai competition would be the team’s next major challenge.
“This is not the end of the journey for this team. The next step is to represent South Africa at the World Spelling Bee Championships, set to take place in Shanghai, China, in mid-July 2026,” Dickinson said at the time.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube also praised the learners when she received the African championship trophy from the team in Pretoria on 9 April.
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“A reading nation is a winning nation. These learners have shown us that when we cultivate a strong culture of reading, we unlock the full potential of our young people,” Gwarube said.
The Department of Basic Education said spelling bees helped learners strengthen their vocabulary, reading comprehension, critical-thinking skills and confidence while encouraging them to read more widely.
Motsumi said the learners’ achievements also reflected the work of their teachers.
“Their achievement is also a testament to the dedication and hard work of our teachers, who continue to provide quality education and nurture excellence in our schools. We are proud of you and wish you every success. Go and make South Africa proud,” she said.
