Team South Africa delivered an outstanding performance at the 8th African Spelling Bee, which took place in Harare, Zimbabwe from 18 to 21 March 2026. Finishing first in the overall team rankings, South Africa was closely followed by Nigeria and Zimbabwe, who came second and third, respectively.
For this year’s competition, 11 African countries brought their top 6 champions to battle it out for the coveted title of the African Spelling Bee Champion. Having been finalists at the 2025 National Spelling Bee Finals, which took place in December 2025 at Sun City, Rustenburg, Ashton Singh (KZN), George van Wyngaard (GP), Mbulelo Tolom (NW), Rhyle Adams (WC), Ifeoma Osondo (WC), and Xilumbi Xivuri (LP) represented Team South Africa in Zimbabwe.
Ashton Singh secured an impressive 2nd place in the Junior Division, continuing South Africa’s strong showing at continental level. Reflecting the African Spelling Bee’s commitment to being a “truly African” Spelling Bee, during the competition, spellers were rigorously tested with words drawn not only from English, but also from 21 African languages. Words such as griot (pronounced gree-ho), Moshoeshoe (pronounced mo-SHWE-shwe), and Ouidah (pronounced wee-dah) challenged participants not only in spelling, but in their ability to navigate language, pronunciation, and African cultural heritage.
Speaking on the importance of literacy promotion activities for young people, Dr Nompumelelo Nyathi-Mohohlwane, Director for Reading at the DBE, said: “Participation in Spelling Bee competitions plays a vital role in strengthening literacy development amongst learners. These competitions go beyond spelling proficiency by enhancing vocabulary, improving reading comprehension, and fostering critical thinking skills. For South African learners, participation in the African Spelling Bee provides valuable exposure to high academic standards and encourages a culture of discipline, focus, and excellence. Importantly, spelling bees contribute significantly to promoting a strong reading culture, as learners are motivated to read widely, engage with diverse texts, and develop a deeper appreciation for language. This not only improves their academic performance but also supports the broader goal of cultivating lifelong readers within the education system”.
According to Mr Roger Dickinson, CEO of the South African Spelling Bee, Team SA’s achievement marks the beginning of the next chapter: “We are deeply grateful to the Department of Basic Education for their continued partnership and commitment to advancing literacy through the Spelling Bee programme. 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”.
With the Department committed to strengthening reading development rooted in mother-tongue and cultural heritage, Dr Nyathi-Mohohlwane emphasised the critical role that partners and stakeholders play in cultivating a literacy culture that acknowledges and celebrates Africa's rich linguistic diversity.