Rotary Sandton announces winners of this year’s poetry competition

Social teaser: Astounding 370 entries received from 25 different schools.

This year's Rotary Sandton poetry competition winners delivered phenomnal pieces.

This year Rotary Club of Sandton’s poetry competition was a resounding success with a mind-blowing 370 entries from 25 schools across the city.

The winners of the annual competition, which ran from February to June, were announced earlier this month.

The project was led by Rotarian Stephanie Schaffrath and together the poems were kindly adjudicated by Dr Deirdre Byrne of the Institute for Gender Studies at the University of South Africa.

Sthembile Makhanya recites her poem to audiences at the Yards of Arts Festival.

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Byrne is particularly well-known for her research in English Literature, Media Studies and Social Theory, making her the perfect adjudicator for this year’s poetry competition.

“Congratulations to our winners! We were blown away by your beautiful poems and believe that each of you is the future of South African poetry and you are destined to achieve great things,” said Stephanie Schaffrath.

Rotex President Ryan Cox and Rotary Sandton president Andrew Smith are excited to meet this year’s compeition winners.

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The winners of this year’s annual Rotary Poetry Competition are:

Grades 4 to 7
1st: Hannah Black from St. Teresa’s School
2nd: Luke Kowlessar from Bryanston Primary School
3rd: Kiera Rule from Grayston Preparatory School

Grades 8 to 10
1st: Tshiamo Monama from Crawford International Sandton
2nd: Sthembile Makhanya from Rand Park High School
3rd: Mologadi Sekele from Deutsche Schule Johannesburg

Grades 11 to 12
1st: Letlotlo Salmone from Reddford House Bluehills
2nd: Unathi Buthelezi from Crawford College Lonehill
3rd: Keaton Puckree from Jeppe High School for Boys

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