Salt River High School Grade 11 pupil Inathi Yekani, right, with her Xhosa teacher, Lwando Mpike, and Grade 10 pupil Lerato Poswa.
Salt River High School pupil Inathi Yekani has won the Grade 11 category in a Xhosa essay competition.
The 17-year-old from Khayelitsha received her first-prize trophy and a certificate at the provincial education department's metro central district Xhosa essay competition prize-giving ceremony, in the City Bowl, on Friday October 20.
More than 40 schools took part in the competition.
Inathi was accompanied by Salt River High Grade 10 pupil Lerato Poswa, who received a certificate of participation in the Grade 10 category, and her Xhosa teacher, Lwando Mpike.
Inathi's essay was about the impact of technology on the youth. “To me, it’s important to write about something that affects our daily lives, and technology happens to be one of those. Technology has changed our lives for the better. However, it has its negatives,” she said.
"I’ve always been good academically, but, funny enough, I’ve never felt that indeed I am good. So winning this competition has somehow given me some sort of validation that I am good."
She thanked Mr Mpike for his support, saying he always encouraged his pupils to do their best. “He is more of a parent than a teacher to all of us."
Mr Mpike said he hoped Inathi’s win would inspire other pupils to do well in the language.
Provincial education department spokeswoman Millicent Merton said the competition was now in its second year and its aim was to encourage a love of Xhosa among pupils.