By Marcus Motshegwa
BENONI – Free State learners made their province proud at the 2025 Water and Sanitation Education Programme (WSEP) National Adjudication Competitions, hosted by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and its partners in Benoni, Gauteng, from October 6 to 11.
The week-long event brought together top young innovators from across the country to showcase creativity, scientific ingenuity, and social awareness in tackling water and sanitation challenges facing their schools and communities.
The WSEP is a flagship initiative of the DWS aimed at promoting water conservation, hygiene, sanitation awareness, and sustainable water resource management. It also seeks to spark young people’s interest in careers within the water and sanitation sector.
Through competitions such as Baswa Le Meetse (Youth in Water), Aqua Enduro, and Public Speaking, the programme encourages learners to develop practical, community-driven solutions and communicate them creatively.
This year’s Baswa Le Meetse contest featured five vibrant subcategories — drama, music, poetry, praise poetry, and posters — all focused on promoting water use efficiency, health, hygiene, and responsible sanitation practices.
Free State learners excelled across several categories. Setshabelo Primary School from Welkom took first place in the Poster category, walking away with R30 000 for their school. Bhekilanga Primary School from Heilbron claimed second place in Praise Poetry, earning R25 000.
High school learners competed in the Aqua Enduro and Public Speaking categories, where the Free State again impressed. Nkgopoleng Secondary School in Sasolburg represented the province in the Aqua Enduro category, which focuses on nurturing young talent in scientific and engineering disciplines relevant to the water sector.
Learner Tshireletso Rangwaga was honoured with the Best Participant in Group Leadership Award, earning praise for her outstanding teamwork and innovation.
Lephola Public School from Welkom represented the province in the Public Speaking category, where three of its learners were each awarded educational bursaries funded by the DWS Learning Academy. The bursaries will enable them to pursue tertiary studies in fields related to water and sanitation.
“The learners demonstrated their passion for mathematics and science through their technological innovations. Their curiosity and creativity show that the future of our water sector is in capable hands,” said Maditaba Tau, an educator from Nkgopoleng Secondary.
Tau also applauded the mentorship support offered by the Central University of Technology (CUT), highlighting the role of Lerato Mofokeng, a lecturer who guided the learners in refining their projects.
“My advice to new schools joining the programme is to collaborate with higher education institutions. Partnerships with universities like CUT help learners prepare more effectively for national competitions. Congratulations to all the learners who received DWS bursaries. The ball is now in their court to work hard and achieve strong university entrance marks,” Tau added.
The Department of Water and Sanitation said the programme continues to play a vital role in nurturing young leaders capable of addressing South Africa’s pressing water and sanitation challenges.
Free State coordinators Kelebogile Saha (073 440 8781) and Nkosinathi Zungu (082 556 0545) have encouraged schools and educators interested in participating in the 2026 Water and Sanitation Education Adjudication Competitions to reach out early for registration and preparation support.
Through such initiatives, the DWS hopes to inspire a generation of environmentally conscious innovators — proving that even the youngest minds can make a powerful difference in securing the nation’s water future
