BLOEMFONTEIN – Two bright learners from schools within the Mangaung Metro were among the top prize winners, receiving prizes that included bursaries at this year’s national finals of the Water and Sanitation Education Programme (WSEP) national adjudication competition.

This year’s national finals took place from 27 September until 1 October in Johannesburg. The recipients were Keitumetse Masisi of the Kgorathuto Secondary School in Botshabelo and Lebohang Motsumi of the Ratau Primary School in Thaba Nchu.

Motsumi scooped a whopping R25 000, made up of R10 000 from the provincial competition and R15 000 from the national adjudication. She secured second position nationally in the Poster category.

Masisi received a laptop and a bursary to further her studies in a water-related field. The Ereskuld Primary School walked away with third prize of R20 000 in the Music category. The prize money comprised R10 000 as the provincial winner and R10 000 from the national adjudication.

Other bursary and laptop recipients were Oratile Mareka of the Trio High School in the Fezile Dabi district, and Lerato Tshabalala of the Lindley High School in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District.

High schools participated in the Aqua Enduro and public speaking competitions, while primary schools competed in the Baswa le Meetse programme that featured the Poster, Music and Praise Poetry categories.

The programme’s chief objective is to contribute towards narrowing the scarce-skills gap in water science and engineering fields within the water sector.

In doing so, it also promotes awareness among learners about water-use efficiency, responsible water resources management, environmental sustainability, and the proper care of sanitation facilities.
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