Lentswe, Klerksdorp - A learner from Klerksdorp is the national junior winner of the 2025 South African National Spelling Bee Competition. The NW Department of Education congratulated Mbulelo Tom, a gr 6 learner at Klerksdorp Primary School, who won this event at Sun City. It took place with a written competition on December 10 and spelling the next day. The boy had to learn sign language, Sotho and even Italian for the competition. Sotho and Italian were used in the written competition, and the spelling was in sign language and English.
He had to sign puppy and zebra and the toughest word that he had to spell was harbinger. A harbinger is a noun or verb that means something or someone that foreshadows or announces a future event or change.
The event had 42 entrants, four from the NW. The others Northwesters were Amarachi Ekwua from DP Kgotleng Primary School in Mafikeng, Igberas Botlhale from Mmatope Primary School, Jericho and Mbali Hlongwani from Diphetogo Primary School in Jouberton.
The four learners obtained top positions during the provincial Spelling Bee competitions, and that allowed them a passage to compete at a national level.
Botlhale reached the final top 16 and was eliminated in the final round, whilst the other learners were eliminated in the early stages of the competition.
The MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, congratulated Team NW for representing the department.
“I would like to motivate those learners who have not obtained the top position at national level not to despair at all. By competing at the national level, it shows that you are the best.
“I would like to thank the educators and parents who continued to support these learners until this far,” added MEC Motsumi.
The top learner walked away with a prize of R15 000, and a laptop from Cell C. He will represent SA at the African Junior Championship Spelling Competition to be held in Zimbabwe next year.
