Liwa Primary School from Nyanga has clinched the prestigious Growsmart literacy competition winner’s title from 160 competing schools to win the Western Cape finals, which were recently held at the V&A Waterfront.
Nyanga is one of Cape Town’s oldest townships and the legacy of its troubling and violent past persists today. Known as the ‘murder capital’ of South Africa, the SAPS annual crime statistics released last month confirmed Nyanga had the highest number of murders recorded at any police station in the country for the fifth year running.
Despite being located in this notoriously dangerous neighbourhood, Liwa Primary School’s hard-working and talented team rose above the difficult circumstance in the community and excelled to win a new iPad learining lab worth R350,000 to further improve education at the school. The top team’s members also won R20,000 each to further their education and their mentor won R10,000.
Growsmart, the leading education initiative by Growthpoint Properties in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Education, is an annual programme focused on boosting the literacy, numeracy and science performance of primary school children. It will celebrate a decade of positive impact on education in the Western Cape next year. It is also offered in the Eastern Cape.
Brian Schreuder, Deputy Director-General: Curriculum and Assessment Management Western Cape Education Department, attended the finals where he remarked that by working together, as the department does with Growsmart, we are all better and stronger.
Mzolisi Diliza, Chairman of Growthpoint’s Social, Ethics and Transformation Committee, says, We are thrilled with the success of the public-private partnership between Growsmart and the Western Cape Education Department, and pleased support better education and a better future for all.
Jewel Harris, Assistant Regional Manager for Growthpoint in the Western Cape who heads Growsmart, says: The children who competed did themselves, their families, the schools and they communities very proud, especially the winners. The relevance and impacts of Growsmart have seen it grow from strength to strength to have an increasingly positive influence the futures of thousands of children.
Growsmart’s sponsors play a vital role in its success and impacts. They include Via Afrika, Novus Holdings, Christel House, Leisure Education Trust, Grant Thornton, Pearson South Africa, The Koreserv Group, Essential Cleaning Services, Synergi Dance Group, McDonald’s, Pick n Pay Constantia Village, Checkers Bayside Mall, Spar Alphen Farm Stall, Two Oceans Aquarium, Caterkid, Vida e Caffè, The Donut Centre- Bayside Mall and Dohnuts Golden Acre.
Winning team members and mentors in all categories were rewarded with generous prizes, with a total of over R500,000 being given to winners to promote even better access to quality education.
Literacy
1. Liwa Primary School, Nyanga. Team: Unamandla Mqaleni, Tshiamo Phago and Alizwa Ntolosi. Mentor: Andrew S Gumindoga.
2. Marconi Beam Primary School, Danoon. Team: Owami Ngqwebo, Yolanda Valashiya and Sumbane Inathi. Mentor: Masibulele Ngcobozi.
3. Northpine Primary School, Brackenfell. Team: Payton Kotze, Ashlyn Solomons, and Motheo Morwasetlha. Mentor: Nicole Williams.
Mathematics
1. Spineview Primary School, Mitchells Plein. Team: Haydan Millward, Cheslyn Rose and Lakeisha Jantjies. Mentor: Teresa Adams.
2. St Augustine’s Primary School,Wynberg. Team: Jordan -Lee Hattingh, Fahid Amir Hassan and Brent Stockenstroom. Mentor: Celeste Ruiters.
3. Blomvlei Primary School, Hanover Park: Team: Myrsini Cyster, Alisha Barnes and Daylene Van Dieman. Mentor: Dean Samson.
Science
1. Blackheath Primary, Blue Downs. Team: Leila Graaff, Brendon Lewis and Caiden Adams. Mentor: Mercia Fourie.
2. Balvenie Primary, Elsies River. Team: Beyonce Pipers, Liam Swartz and Audrey Absalom. Mentor: Ursula De Villiers.
3. Floreat Primary, Retreat. Team: Gugu Mbhele, Malachi Asia and Simamkele Dekeni. Mentor: Kristi Jooste
Debating
1. Intshayelelo Primary, Khayelitsha. Team: Lelethu Diamond, Jwili Aphelele, and Milani Mraji. Mentor: Nolundi Mbaba.
2. Lantana Primary, Mitchells Plein. Team: Amran Soeker, Raheemah Brown and Tamlin Kannemeyer. Mentor: Jamie Kiewiet.
Story writing
1. Lithaluthu Gida of Belmore Primary, Hanover Park. Mentor: Charnell Hector.
2. Diego Esau of Blackheath Primary, Blue Downs. Mentor: Madelaine Swartz.
3. Nonhlanhla Mpetha of Intshayelelo Primary, Khayelitsha. Mentor: Nolundi Mbaba.
Most Creative: Tinevimbo Meki of Factretorn Primary, Maitland. Mentor: Callan J Lewin.
Growsmart:
www.growsmart.org.za
www.facebook.com/Growsmart
www.instagram.com/Growsmart
www.youtube.com/GrowsmartCSI
Growthpoint Properties:
www.linkedin.com/company/growthpoint-properties-ltd
www.youtube.com/GrowthpointBroadcast
/ends
Released by:
Growthpoint Properties Limited
Nadine Kuzmanich
Head, Marketing and Communication
Tel: 011 944 6251
For more information, or to book an interview, please contact Mahlatse Bojanyane on 011 783 0700 or on 083 453 6668 or email [email protected].