The top spellers in the country are from the Western Cape. In the national finals of the 2019 Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival held on 19 October at Stellenbosch University, 11 of the 30 winners were from the Western Cape and five from the Northern Cape. Last year, the Northern Cape was the provincial winner with the Western Cape coming in second. The competition is offered for Grade 1 to 10 Afrikaans Home Language learners. The overall winners in Grade 2, 5, 6 and 7 were all from the Western Cape. 

A total of 376 learners from 187 schools across South Africa took part in the national finals. Learners flexed their spelling muscles in Afrikaans Home language (Gr 1–10) and English First Additional Language (Gr 6–9).

In order to reach the finals, learners had to compete in a series of local and provincial rounds held across the country during the year.

WOW supports multilingualism and this year 84 learners from the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape took part in the Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival for English First Additional Language. Since 2017, WOW has also offered a spelling festival for isiXhosa learners in Grade 6 and 7 in four districts in the Western Cape. This year, a pilot spelling festival for Grade 3 was launched in one of the Western Cape districts.

In the section for English Additional Language for learners from Grade 6 to 9, the Western Cape shone. Five of the top twelve learners were from the Western Cape and four from the Eastern Cape. 

“Every year I think that the standard is very high, and then the learners outdo themselves," says Fiona van Kerwel, project manager of the WOW programme. “I am thrilled to be dealing with the really great problem of having to find words that learners will find challenging and which will showcase their spelling skills. Luckily Afrikaans is a rich language. We will not run out of words."

Saartjie Botha, director of the Toyota SU Woordfees and the WOW project, concurs: “The standard was even higher this year. Learners had to compete in up to 80 rounds to eliminate competitors. The competition has also grown. More than 700 schools took part in this year's Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival. This means that more than 100 schools throughout the country are participating in this remarkable festival."

Winners each received a cash prize, a medal and a shield from Sanlam, a badge for their blazers and a book prize from NB Publishers. The first-place winners received either a slim phone or a tablet.  Other sponsors include Stellenbosch University, kykNET, TAO (Trust for Afrikaans Teaching), the Het Jan Marais National Fund and the Millennium Trust.

Sydney Nhlanhla Mbhele, Sanlam's chief marketing manager, commented that it was an honour for Sanlam to be the named sponsor for the fifth year of the WOW Spelling Festival. “Spelling plays a huge role in how learners learn and what they can achieve academically, as well as in the development of learners' potential to be able to successfully enter tertiary education, and become financially strong, successful and valuable members of society."

The WOW National Spelling Festival is now in its eighth year. WOW, an acronym for Words Open Worlds, works to encourage a love of words and reading in young learners. The project also annually assists some 15 needy students at Stellenbosch University through bursaries.

National winners per grade in Afrikaans Home language

Grade 1

1. Ruan Maartens                                 Fairland Primary                                             Gauteng
2. Katryn Silvis                                   Jan van Riebeeck Primary                            Western Cape
3. Janolene Fiekies                             VRT Pitt Primary                                           Western Cape

Grade 2

1. Luke Versveld                                 Gericke Primary School                                Western Cape
2. Nay-Leesha Rezant                        Alpha Primary                                                Northern Cape
3. Marli Jacobs                                    CR Swart Primary                                          Mpumalanga

Grade 3

1. Wium Potgieter                             Parys Primary School                                   Free State
2. Marlouise du Toit                          Vredendal Primary School                          Western Cape
3. Duan Beukes                                 Melkbosstrand Private School                                   Western Cape

Grade 4

1. Megan Cruickshank                       Louw Geldenhuys Primary                         Gauteng
2. Logan Damane                              The Hague Primary                                      Western Cape
3. Hayden Vorster                              Helderkruin Primary                                     Gauteng

Grade 5

1. Lise la Grange                                 Niko Brummer Primary                                Western Cape
2. Carii van Rooyen                            Krugerpark Primary                                      Limpopo
3. Faith Pieterse                                 Alpha Primary                                                Northern Cape

Grade 6

1. Keesha Bukkies                               Laurie Hugo Primary                                     Western Cape
2. Sheona-Lee Blou                            Seagull Primary                                            Eastern Cape
3. Elmien Pieterse                             Pietersburg East Primary                             Limpopo

Grade 7

1. Tatum Ferrier                                Idas Valley Primary                                      Western Cape
2. Mila Kotzé                                      Truida Kesstell                                              Free State
3. Anri Botha                                       Sunridge Primary                                         Eastern Cape

Grade 8

1. Izelna Venter                                 Pietersburg High                                           Limpopo
2. Annabelle Theunissen                  Middelburg High                                            Mpumalanga
3. Skylah Williams                              Namaqualand High                                        Northern Cape

Grade 9

1. Josef Joubert                                  Piet Potgieter High                                   Limpopo
2. Asleigh Arendse                            Namaqualand High                                   Northern Cape
3. Luyanda Pofadder                         GS Friesdale RK                                          Northern Cape

Grade 10

1. Leandri du Plessis                            Sentraal High                                               Free State
2. Jennilee Stuurman                          Bernadino Heights                                     Western Cape
3. Elsa Marie van der Watt                HMS Bloemhof                                            Western Cape

Winners per Grade in English First Additional Language

Grade 6

1. Khanya Siheula                               Graslaagte Primary                                        Eastern Cape
2. Megan Potberg                              Graslaagte Primary                                        Eastern Cape
3. Kgatliso Ebuang                              Pabalelo Primary                                             Northern Cape

Grade 7

1. Bessie Longwe                                 Hindle Road West Primary                         Western Cape
2. Babalwa Zikhali                               Vela-Langa Primary                                     Northern Cape
3. Shaylin De Klerk                              Hermeslaan Primary                                    Western Cape

Grade 8

1. Tristen Tieling                                  Saxsonsea Secondary                                   Western Cape
2. Charlton Goliath                             Gelvandale High School                             Eastern Cape
3. Verona Appollis                              Atlantis Secondary                                       Western Cape

Grade 9

1. Mpho Xwethu                                 Vuyolwethu High School                            Northern Cape
2. Tanya Starbuck                               Otto Du Plessis High School                       Eastern Cape

3. Lauren Balie                                    Atlantis Secondary                                       Western Cape