Mpumalanga MEC Thandi Shongwe announces winners for the short story writing competition in IsiSwati and IsiNdebele
"This writing competition is one of the efforts by the department to promote the languages," said the MEC.
Mpumalanga MEC for Culture, Sport, and Recreation Thandi Shongwe in announcing the winners of the short story writing competition in IsiSwati and IsiNdebele emphasised the importance of writing and speaking the two languages.
Shongwe urged the people of the province to be proud of their culture, arts, and anything associated with themselves.
The SiSwati and IsiNdebele writing competition prize winners were announced at the Anew Hotel on Thursday, October 26.
One of the judges highlighted the importance of focussing on one item, that the cover of the book must be attractive, the dialogue important and that there must be no conflicts when one is writing.
He also pointed out that the language used must be rich as well as to use short sentences to the point, and that writers must not copy from each other when writing.
Shongwe emphasised the importance of using the languages, as the two were previously marginalised.
“We are a diverse province, and we need to develop the two languages as they are important like any other language. Dr Mafika Lubisi was recruited and tasked to develop IsiSwati after first teaching the language at the University of Zululand, the first university to do so. Even the two radio stations’ efforts were made to develop the languages. We want to encourage young writers to use the two languages in their writing of books. This writing competition is one of the efforts by the department to promote the languages. Young people must know their languages, not to use the borrowed language and as leaders, we need to be in the forefront,” Shongwe pointed out.
Shongwe thanked all the organisers of the competition and the efforts put in to promote the language.
She promised that the writing competition next year will be better and offer more prize money.
In the SiSwati category the winners were: Anele Alton Mkhabela – Nkomazi Municipality, Ehlanzeni district (first prize R20 000), Zodwa Patience Hlatshwayo – Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality, Gert Sibande district (second prize R15 000), Zamandulo Khulile Mhlongo – Mbombela Municipality, Ehlanzeni district (third prize R10 000) and Msesi Maryline Gamede – Mbombela Municipality, Ehlanzeni district (fourth prize R5 000).
In the IsiNdebele category the winners were: Goodman Nyumude – Thembisile Hani Municipality, Nkangala district (first prize R20 000), Thobile Skosana – Victor Khanye Municipality (second prize R15 000), Antonette Lindokuhle Ntuli – Thembisile Hani Municipality, Nkangala district (third prize R10 000) and Lindokuhle Mnguni – Thembisile Hani Municipality, Nkangala district (fourth prize R5 000).
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