WELKOM – The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), together with the Free State Department of Education, has presented a token of appreciation to educator Dikeledi Mokhothu, who was named national winner at the recent Baswa le Meetse 2025 competition under the Water and Sanitation Education Programme (WSEP).
National success story
Mokhothu, an educator at the Setshabelo Primary School in Welkom, mentored learners who participated in the competition and secured first position for the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State, whilst also claiming the national first position in the poster category.
The team led by Mokhothu participated in a series of competitions, progressing from district level through to the national adjudications held in Benoni, Gauteng, from 6 to 11 October.
A presentation ceremony took place on 11 November at Setshabelo, attended by the school governing body, learners, educators, and school management, who celebrated the achievements of their dedicated educator.
In addition to the R30 000 monetary prize won by the learners on behalf of their school, the department recognised the need to acknowledge hardworking educators who guided learners throughout the competition. Mokhothu received a tablet as appreciation for her dedication to ensuring learners are equipped in education and career development.
Programme impact
According to Vukani Mtya, deputy director of the WSEP, competitions such as these expose learners to water conservation and hygiene initiatives that they subsequently use to educate their communities.
“It is important to educate young minds, because they are the leaders of the future. Through educators, we channel the right information to learners so that they become responsible citizens and further their career interests within the sector,” Mtya explained.
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“The WSEP provides a pathway for learners participating at grassroots intermediate phase Baswa le Meetse, transitioning them to high school programmes such as the South African Youth Water Prize (SAYWP), public speaking, and Aqua Enduro competitions that lead to bursary awards. The bursary covers tuition at any institution of their choice, and students are also exposed to employment opportunities within the water sector,” Mtya added.
Educator’s experience
Mokhothu participated in the Baswa le Meetse (Youth in Water) programme, presenting a theme that connected with artistic expression, where character and conduct combined to create a winning poster at the national awards.
“As an educator, I managed to present my learners’ poster, which covered issues on water, hygiene and the use and care of sanitation facilities. The support from the DWS really warmed my heart as a teacher, because educators are not recognised in most competitions we participate in,” Mokhothu stated.
“This token of appreciation serves as encouragement for me and other educators to exceed expectations in educating our learners. The ceremony was a special day for me, and my learners were given a platform of honour in front of my colleagues. My state-of-the-art tablet will be invaluable for work preparation and will help eliminate unnecessary paperwork.”
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Institutional recognition
The DWS also acknowledged the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority’s (EW SETA) contribution of the tablets, noting that this recognition not only applauds educators’, work but will assist them in their annual teaching plans (ATP) and enable them to access documents relating to the education curriculum.
“We pride ourselves on Mokhothu, who represented the Free State at the National Teaching Awards in 2024. We are proud of our ‘dynamite’, as she is affectionately called. We are grateful that she continues to put Setshabelo Primary School on the map,” stated the school.
- The DWS urges both educators and learners to participate in the WSEP. For more information, contact Nkosinathi Zungu on 082 556 0545 or Kelebohile Saha on 073 440 8781.
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