Thirteen-year-old Lesedi Seemane is back home in Limpopo after travelling to Uganda, where she recently emerged as the joint winner of the Africa Spelling Bee Competition.
The bright Grade 7 schoolgirl’s remarkable achievement has made everyone very proud, especially her family and school – the Dendron Primary School in Limpopo.
Lesedi represented South Africa in the junior category of the Spelling Bee Competition and shared the top spot with Ugandian learner Agoba Austin Jordan.
Speaking to The Bulrushes, Lesedi said after she won a provincial spelling competition, she was encouraged by the Limpopo Education Department to enter the Africa Spelling Bee Competition.
Once she made up her mind to compete in Africa, Lesedi began preparing with the help of her grandmother, Joyce Modiba.
“My preparations for the competition was reading the dictionary for at least 15 minutes each day, and my granny would also make me spell some words,” recalled Lesedi.
Clutching her trophy, the ambitious schoolgirl told The Bulrushes that her favourite subjects are Mathematics and English.
Visibly pleased with herself, Lesedi said: “It feels great to win the African Spelling Bee Competition”.
“When I finish school, I want to study to be a neurosurgeon,” Lesedi said, adding: “I have always been curious about the brain, and the nerves, and how they connect”.
Lesedi lives with her 63-year-old grandmother, Joyce Kanyo Modiba.
All the while, her doting granny tells anyone who cares to listen how her wonderful granddaughter beat the “whole of Africa” to become the junior Spelling Bee champion of 2023.
“I am over the moon and so proud of her for winning this African Spelling Bee competition,” Granny Modiba tells The Bulrushes.
Dendron Primary School head Elize de Kock described Lesedi as “shy and quiet”.
She said next year, Lesedi will be a learner at Dendron Secondary School.
On Lesedi’s performance at the Spelling Bee Competition, De Kock said: “It was her second year in the South African team, but she didn’t get a position last year in Malawi.
“I believe the experience from last year’s competition prepared her for this year to have more confidence.”
De Kock said after the Malawi trip, she noticed that Lesedi was more confident and easily interacted with other schoolchildren.
“Spelling Bee has taught her to show emotions, she has changed from an ’emotionless’ face to a confident girl with a big smile,” De Kock said.
“She has an inner strength that is seen when she is standing in front of the people, not knowing which word is coming and staying calm while spelling it out.”
De Kock said Lesedi works hard and uses her God-given talent well.
“We are extremely proud of her, this is beyond words, to have a champ of Africa with us,” De Kock said.
Mike Maringa, Limpopo Education MEC Spokesperson said: “As Limpopo Department of Education, we are very delighted about the award that Lesedi has brought home in the African Spelling Bee competition.
“As a province, each year we send the best of the best to represent the province and the country.
“We also want to thank the educators who work around the clock to ensure that the learners are well-trained and ready to compete with the world”.
