The week of 18 - 22 August 2025 was a whirlwind of talent during the MDDA Eisteddfod.

Monday and Tuesday, 18 and 19 August, the week kicked off with drama of the highest quality. The adjudicator, Tiaan Slabbert, was particularly impressed with the wealth of dramatic talent in Limpopo.

CATEGORY WINNERS IN DRAMA

Pre-school – Grade 1
Lisa Pohl – Solo item: 95%
Wysneusie Nursery School – Group item 80%

Grade 2 – 3
Handré Botes – Solo item 95%
Ruah Moshobane – Solo item 95%

Grade 4 – 5
Skyler du Toit – Solo item 92%
Mianke Louw – Solo item 92%
Inge Jansen van Vuuren – Solo programme 95%

Grade 6 – 7
Lara van Veelen – Solo item 94%
Cara van Zyl – Solo programme 93%
Regardt Krüger – Group item 89%
Zanri Krüger – Group item 89%

Grade 8 – 9
Buhle Nyangiwe – Solo item 96%
Iné Celliers – Solo programme 90%
Amelie Pretorius – Group duo 94%
Anin Katzke – Group duo 94%
Xico Santa Rita – Group item 95%
Kobus Auret – Group item 95%
Zian de Beer – Group item 95%
Klara Botha-Nel – Group item 95%
Lillian Fourie – Group item 95%

Grade 10 – 12
Mokonyama Priscilla – Solo item 93%
Olivia Venter – Solo item 93%
Henk de Wet – Solo item 93%
Victoria MacKenzie – Solo programme 92%
Jean de Wet – Solo programme 92%
Jean de Wet – Group item 92%
Luzaan Erasmus – Group item 92%

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On Wednesday, 20 August, dancers from beginners to advanced showed their skills. Adjudicator Charisse Barwise had her work cut out to award fair marks and provide valuable feedback.

CATEGORY WINNERS IN DANCE

 Beginner – Grade 1 – 4
Thato Maredi – Solo item 79.5%
Arielle Terblance – Group dance: But first, let’s take a selfie 80%
Ila van Rooyen – Group dance: But first, let’s take a selfie 80%
Mieke Lombard – Group dance: But first, let’s take a selfie 80%
Nathalie Moeken – Group dance: But first, let’s take a selfie 80%
Leah Fourie – Group dance: Hat dance 80%
Niki Eastman – Group dance: Hat dance 80%
Ella Schulze – Group dance: Hat dance 80%
Lana Pieterse – Group dance: Hat dance 80%
Meley Lee – Group dance: Hat dance 80%

Older beginner – Grade 5 – 8
Jennica van Zyl – Solo item 82.5%
Giselle Lopes – Group dance: African 84%
Jané Marais – Group dance: African 84%
Sunet Coetzee – Group dance: African 84%
Naomi Grissel – Group dance: African 84%
Wilmarie Gouws – Group dance: African 84%
Simoné Vermeulen – Group dance: African 84%

Intermediate – Grade 5 – 7
Bonolo Michelle Makgoba – Solo item 81.5%
Shantel Mohale – Group dance 73%
Bohale Motau – Group dance 73%
Ndzima Maswangani – Group dance 73%

Intermediate – Grade 8 – 10
Tihana Venter – Solo item 84.5%
Lia Coetzee – Solo item 84.5%
Aimee Mokgerere – Group traditional dance 80%
Angela Zwane – Group traditional dance 80%
Ntsakisi Bilankulu – Group traditional dance 80%
Mashau Ramano – Group traditional dance 80%
Rinae Ntshauba – Group traditional dance 80%
Zielke Duvenhage – Group dance: Echo 80%
Lillian Fourie – Group dance: Echo 80%
Mienke van Niekerk – Group dance: Echo 80%
Mieke Venter – Group dance: Echo 80%
Micah van Niekerk – Group dance: Echo 80%
Mieke Honeyball – Group dance: Echo 80%
Micke Pieterse – Group dance: Echo 80%
Vicky Maartens – Group dance: Echo 80%

Advanced – Grade 10 – 12
Ansuretha Perold – Solo item 84.5%
Anchen Human – Group dance: Cry me a river 87%
Ansuretha Perold – Group dance: Cry me a river 87%
Karja Kruger – Group dance: Cry me a river 87%
Neria Fleischmann – Group dance: Cry me a river 87%
Tihana Venter – Group dance: Cry me a river 87%
Mienke van Niekerk – Group dance: Cry me a river 87%
Victoria MacKenzie – Group dance: Cry me a river 87%
Elrene Knoetze – Group dance: Cry me a river 87%
Zoë-Leigh Thompson – Group dance: Cry me a river 87%
Stanford Lake College – Traditional group dance: Tsonga 76%

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On Thursday, 21 August, the stage belonged to the singers. Solo items, duets and choir performances enchanted the audience. Mr Philippus Hugo, adjudicator of the day, was enthralled by the quality and passion he witnessed on stage.

CATEGORY WINNERS IN VOCAL

Grade 1 – 3
Lethabo Mafa – Solo item 90%

Grade 4 – 5
Malebo Rahupetsane – Solo item 89%

Grade 6 – 7
Minkateko Senwana – Solo item 92%
LJ van Rooyen – Solo item 92%
Karabo Ngobeni – Solo programme 93%
The Lighthouse Academy – Group choir item 95%

Grade 8 – 9
Siwe Myeni – Solo item 94%
Karsten Meyer – Solo item 94%
Bonolo Malahlela – Solo programme 95%
Ilana Lubbe – Group singing item 92%
Marny du Plessis – Group singing item 92%

Grade 10 – 12
Lethabo Ramohlale – Solo item 95%
Krisha Kanyongolo – Solo item 95%
Nicola Smit – Solo item 95%
Basani Msimeki – Solo item 95%
Adriaan Muller – Solo programme 97%
Siwe Myeni – Group singing item 93%
Seni Myeni – Group singing item 93%
Stanford Lake College choir – Group choir item 90%

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On Friday, 23 August, the musicians wrapped up the week. This section gave learners the opportunity to showcase their skills on instruments such as piano, guitar, cello, marimbas and djembes.

CATEGORY WINNERS IN INSTRUMENTAL

Grade 4 – 5
Pieter Mostert – Solo item 92%
Simeon Bekker – Solo programme 85%

Grade 6 – 7
Izias van Niekerk – Solo item 86%
Joshua Bekker – Solo programme 82%
Kingscourt Percussion Band – Group item 94%

Grade 8 – 9
Mikayla Venter – Solo item 95%
Nadia Honiball – Solo programme 92%
Stanford Lake College – Marimba Juniors 90%

Grade 10 – 12
Nikolas Muller – Solo item 94%
Adriaan Muller – Solo programme 97%
Southern Cross School – Djembe players, Group item 100%
Karien Horak – Group item 95%
Lianke Oosthuizen – Group item 95%

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Even before the start of the Eisteddfod week, creative writing pieces were received by email. Mrs Magdaleen van Niekerk, a linguist from Pretoria, assessed the work and provided valuable, personalised feedback for each participant.

CATEGORY WINNERS IN CREATIVE WRITING

Grade 6 – 7
Alba Mamba – Poem 85%
Clarese Botes – Essay 84%

Grade 8 – 9
Tarryn-jay Diedericks – Paragraph 84%
Lyla Aucamp – Poem 83%
Iné Celliers – Essay 89%

Grade 10 – 12
Charlie Peniston – Paragraph 88%
René Smal – Poem 86%
Steven Thompson – Essay 90%
Isabella Sussens – Essay 90%

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Throughout the week, visitors could also enjoy an art and photography exhibition in the MDDK. This section was adjudicated by Ms Anel Griesel.

CATEGORY WINNERS IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Grade 6 – 7
Marika Marx – Night 80%
Marika Marx – Black and white 82%
Marika Marx – Creative art 72%
Marika Marx – Culinary 75%
Marika Marx – Macro photography 85%

Grade 8 – 9
Rikus Kamffer – Night 81%
Rikus Kamffer – Black and white 90%
Layla Balt – Creative art 85%
Ben Adams – Macro photography 90%

Grade 10 – 12
Karla Marx – Night 83%
Janne van der Ploeg – Black and white 88%
Isabella Sussens – Creative art 88%
Sunique Coetzee – Culinary 88%
Adysen Hewitt – Macro photography 90%

Adult
Karin Marx – Night 85%
Karin Marx – Black and white 75%
Karin Marx – Creative art 70%
Karin Marx – Culinary 84%
Karin Marx – Macro photography 86%

CATEGORY WINNERS IN ART

Pre-school – Grade 1
Amuhelang Mobokwane – Insects 80%

Grade 2 – 3
Theto Mamokgere – My house 85%

Grade 4 – 5
Ilé Fourie – Movement 85%

Grade 6 – 7
Megan Stoltz – Nature (2 pieces) 88%

Grade 8 – 9
Ethan Visser – Friends 88%

Grade 10 – 12
Ataliah van Niekerk – Emotions 89%
Ataliah van Niekerk – 3D artwork Emotions 82%