Khaliphani Secondary School from KaNyamazane outshines the rest in science competition

Khaliphani Secondary School in KaNyamazane was the winner of the 2023 Crocodile Sub-catchment’s Regional Science School Competition. The finals were held in the Lowveld Botanical Garden on March 23.

Sicelalwati Secondary School in Tekwane North took second and Zenzele Secondary School took third place in this nail-baiting event.

The competition began on March 1 as the country kick-started National Water Month. The instruction given to the participants was to develop a ground water conceptual model which practically demonstrates the importance of the water, energy, food and nexus. The students were told to investigate and do basic research on how to access groundwater for domestic use. Khaliphani built an aquifer.

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The competition was co-ordinated and hosted by the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (Iucma) and its partners within the water management area. It is aimed at developing Grade 10 and 11 learners’ thinking, research, reporting and cognitive skills. The schools targeted were from historically disadvantaged communities.

The Department of Education selected schools and learners who are doing science and mathematics from information sourced from the district and circuit offices. The objective was to raise awareness of integrated water resource management and to showcase its role in the socio-economic development of the country.

It also intended to spark the interest of learners in the field of science and engineering with a specific focus on water science. Lindokuhle Tibane, a Khaliphani teacher, said they are happy to be this year’s winners. “We worked hard, including in school holidays, so we were not surprised to have won. We managed to come up with a solution as to how the community can save water.”

The learners went home with various prizes such as laptops, tablets and vouchers, and certificates and trophies.
The Iucma chairperson, Sam Mthembu, said young scientists are needed to solve the issues affecting the environment and share the role they can play in the future.

“Today we do not have losers, we are all winners. We have reached the competition stage. When we look at the projects, we are looking at winners. Do not say you have lost because you have reached the final stage.”

” Today’s theme is ‘Accelerating change’, the key word there is change as we are aware that in the past two decades we have continuously accelerated change in the environment around us. This has affected our water resources. We have seen the devastating effect of climate change and we need young scientists that will look at how we can be assisted on how we can avoid it and come up with solutions.”

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“This affects water resources as well. We have seen floods in Mozambique and around here. We want scientists like you to do projects and study so that we can see how we can avoid this negative effect. We have also seen global warming it affects our water resource. It is much hotter than it was when I was growing up. We are losing a lot of water. When I was growing we could drink water from the well and rivers, but no more. Start where you leave so that you can see you can be an instrument of change, in terms of avoiding water pollution.”

He added issues such as depletion of ozone layer, air pollution and soil erosion. According to him these future scientists who attended the competition can help if they get involved and if they study hard.

Mthembu thanked the City Of Mbombela, Komati Basin Water Authority, Silulumanzi, the Mpumalanga Department of Education, the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Sanbi, Sappi, Barberton Mines, Manganese Metal Co, Ilima Coal Company, Umsimbithi Mining Pty Ltd, SANParks, Working on Fire, the Department of Water and Sanitation.
He said the sponsors are future employers of these learners.