​This year the Northern Cape is the province that spells best. Ten of the thirty prize winners in the final round of the Sanlam WOW Spelling Bee for Afrikaans Home Language are from here.

The Western Cape is second with eight winners while Gauteng has five.

Between 28 and 36 learners per grade tested their spelling ability in the final round. All nine provinces were represented by the grade 1 to 10 learners.

Saturday also saw the final round of the spelling competition for grade 6 and 9 learners with English as First Additional Language. Here the Western Cape was the strongest.

“More than 6 000 learners participated on school, district and provincial level to get us to where we are today," said Saartjie Botha, director of the SU Woordfees (which includes the WOW project), at the prize giving ceremony.

The learners' exceptional spelling abilities caused the programme for the day to run about an hour later than planned because various grades couldn't finish. Three finalists per grade, from each of the nine provinces, spelled in rounds. When a mistake is made, the participant is disqualified. Even the Grade 2 and 3 learners spelled for nearly three hours without a break before a winner was identified.

Fiona van Kerwel, WOW project manager, also thanked the teachers who volunteer and see that the competition runs without fault from school level all the way to the nationals.

“Through exposure and interaction the spelling bee really opens worlds for the youngsters and this is why the final is such a highlight," says Dr Leslie van Rooi, senior director of Social Impact and Transformation, which includes WOW (an acronym for Words Open Worlds). “As a medium, language can cross borders – we should learn from the youth."

Frank Louw, on behalf of main sponsor, Sanlam, said they support the project because numeracy and literacy are very important for the company.

Winners each received a cash prize and medal from Sanlam, as well as a book prize from NB Publishers. The first place winners also received an iPad (grade 1-5) or a smart phone (grade 6-9). Other sponsors include KykNET, the Dagbreek Trust and Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds.

The Sanlam WOW Spelling Bee is now in its eleventh year. WOW, an acronym for Words Open Worlds, aims to foster a love for reading and words among learners. Annually the project helps about thirteen less privileged learners at Stellenbosch University by providing additional bursaries.

The Sanlam WOW Spelling Bee 2018 has already opened. Visit www.woordfees.co.za and click on WOW.

For more information on the final round of the Sanlam WOW Spelling Bee 2017, contact Shireen Crotz at the WOW office on [email protected] or 083 237 7059.