The minister of education in the the Western Cape (WCED) David Maynier was at Watsonia Primary School in Kraaifontein to celebrate the start of South African Library Week. Maynier used the occasion to announce winners of last year’s School Library Competition held at the end of the year, in with ten schools each won R35 000 for their library resources.
The competition, which celebrates International School Library Month in October each year, asked learners to draw a picture or write a poem for the theme: “Do you speak Math?” Learners often struggle with word problems in maths assessments, Maynier observed. “So we used the opportunity to highlight the relationship between mathematics and language, and their vital role in supporting learning across all subjects,” the minister said.
The competition was run with the support of the department’s Education Library and Information Services (EDULIS) and Maynier expressed their delight at the creativity of the entries they received.
2025 School Library Competition winners
Note: grade listed is for 2025
Foundation Phase poster/drawing:
- Seth Buckton (Grade 1) – West End Primary School, Mitchell’s Plain
- Daniel Claasen (Grade 1) – Watsonia Primary School, Kraaifontein
- Sivuyile Jase (Grade 2) – Dalubuhle Primary School, Franschhoek
Primary school poetry:
- Imange Komna (Grade 7) – Phakamisani Primary School, Kwanokuthula
- Kara Dreyer (Grade 5) – Durbanville Primary School, Durbanville
- Ahlumile Petu (Grade 7) – Moshesh Primary School, Langa
High school poetry:
- Calvino Snyman (Grade 9) – Ashbury Primary School, Montagu
- Aliswa Dolfi (Grade 8) – Makupula Secondary School, Stellenbosch
- Siqhamo Malashe (Grade 10) – Centre of Science and Technology, Khayelitsha
- Lihle Mdiza (Grade 12) –Soneike High School, Kuils River
Maynier thanked all learners who entered the competition, and said the department looks forward to seeing how schools make good use of the additional funds to improve reading skills in the Western Cape.
