National Essay Writing Competition Against Racism Press Statement

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation announced the top achievers of the 6 th Annual National
Essay Writing Competition Against Racism on Sunday, the 11 th of December at Constitutional
Hill. This year’s competition submission’s included essays, poems, songs and original
artworks.

This year’s top 3 prizes included a cash prize and a laptop, sponsored by the Cyril
Ramaphosa Foundation. The winners of the competition included Outstanding Art and
Poem Awards as well as three top essays. All winners were afforded a chance to read out
their essays and winning submissions in front of an audience of fellow participants of the
competition, youth, political leaders and change agents. This year’s competition received
over 500 entries from youth across length and breadth of the country.
This year’s topics included:

1. Do #BlackLivesMatter in South Africa today?
2. A Future Free from Racism
3. The Fear of Difference
4. This is My Anti-Racism Policy for Schools 
   Over the past 6 years, the Foundation has received over 5000 submissions from young
   people who have entered the competition.
   “It is important that we continue to provide a platform for young people to express their
   views, their concerns and their possible solutions to the issue of racism, racial
   discrimination, xenophobia and discrimination; and it is important to the Foundation to
   continue with this,” said the Foundation’s Anti-Racism Manager, Rethabile Ratsomo.
   The essay evaluation process always provides insight into the experiences of young people.
   Being able to read the ideas and views of the young people and the various ways that they
   have interpreted our topics has certainly added greater depth and value to our own
   understanding of the issue,” said the Foundation’s Executive Director, Neeshan Balton.

The top 14 submissions who were selected in numerical order:

1. Ayanda Nguda
2. Lubabalo Kona
3. Keitumetse Chokwe
4. Amina Mahomed
5. Elizabeth Britton
6. Patronella Mazhindu
7. Letlotlo Thekiso
8. Mahdiyya Patel
9. Precious Ntuli
10. Rekgotsofetse Kolomote
11. Amanda Mothisi
12. Melissa Malunga
13. Muhammed Bhamjee
14. Dylan Gandiwa
    Certificates will be sent to all competition participants that entered. We want to thank all the
    participants, not only for participating in the competition, but for taking the time to grapple
    with the issue of racism and discrimination, something that remains a problem in South
    Africa and globally.