Young writers captivate judges in annual writing competition
07 September 2025
The competition hosted by the City's Library and Information Services attracted over 200 entries. The winners were announced at the Open Book Festival held at the Central Library yesterday.
The theme for this year’s competition required writers to craft a short story around a mysterious box that they stumble upon while exploring their school or local library. The box is adorned with strange symbols, emitting a faint humming sound.
The creative prompt sparked a diverse array of captivating tales, ranging from magical discoveries to thrilling adventures.
Participants were able to submit stories in English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa.
‘We are extremely proud of this year’s participants. Their stories and artwork were imaginative and beautifully written. This year, we introduced a new category for Best Artwork or Illustrations in recognition of the creativity and artistic talent shown by the learners. We were wonderfully surprised by the imaginative visuals that accompanied many of the stories, adding depth and vibrancy to their storytelling. This competition is just one of the many ways that the Community Services and Health Directorate is creating opportunities for our youth and supporting creativity and literacy,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
The competition was judged by a panel that included representatives from Nal’ibali, as well as celebrated local authors Dr Alicia English, Phindile Memani and Lonwabo Mabele who brought their expertise and passion for storytelling to the process.
The competition saw 40 libraries participating, with several libraries such as Tokai, Brackenfell, Southfield, Langa, and Mfuleni hosting writing workshops led by invited guests, including Nal’ibali and local authors. These sessions provided learners with valuable inspiration and guidance as they crafted their stories.
A total of 68 schools took part in the competition, alongside 13 home schooled learners who submitted their entries via their local libraries. While most submissions were written in English, 10 stories were written in Afrikaans and just over 20 in isiXhosa, reflecting the multilingual richness of the city’s young writers.
As part of their prize, the first-place winner will receive an exclusive Writing Masterclass with Dr Alicia English, and their winning story will be featured on the Nal’ibali website, giving them a platform to inspire other young readers and writers.
Below is the list of category winners:
The winners in the English category (8-10 years):
First place, Cosima Miller, age 10
Second place, Daniel John Boesak, age 9
Third place, Sarah Honnet, age 9
The winners in the English category (11-13 years):
First place, Amelie Deplace, age 12
Second place, Isabella Ismail, age 12
Third place, Emma Roux, age 11
The winners in the Afrikaans category (9-13 years):
First place, Lisa De Jager, age 10
Second place, Jemma Philander, age 9
Third place, Daniel van Wyk, age 13
This year’s winners in the Xhosa category (8-10 years):
First place, Elam Mfihlo, age 9
Second place, Luhleluje Ben, age 10
Third place, Esothando Lilo Mpondo, age 10
This winners in the Xhosa category (11-13 years):
First place, K D Dhlamini, age 13
Second place, Oyintando Booi, age 11
Third place, Lindokuhle Dyariwe, 11
The winners in the Best Artwork category (9-13 years):
First place, Josh Nsumbe, age 12 and Eden Dupreez, age 11
Second place, Bianca Quinn and Annabella Thomas, ages 9
Third place, Hannah De Wet, age 10
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
