Tshilidzi Phalanndwa, a Grade 7 pupil at Makwarela Primary School in Sibasa, has won the first prize in the Baswa le Meetse national praise-singing competition that was recently held at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

The competition was organized by the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education. Scholars from the nine provinces participated during the competition.

The 12-year-old Tshilidzi received R6 000, a trophy and a certificate. The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is also to build a media centre at Makwarela Primary with 20 computers, following Tshilidz´s victory. She won the provincial competition last year, where she received a cash prize of R4 000. Before that, she had also won the competition at district level, where she was awarded a cash prize of R2 000. All the prize money, R12 000 in total , will be shared between her and the school, which means that she will receive R6 000.

Tshilidzi´s trainer and teacher, Mrs Virginia Mmbara, said she was very happy about the girl´s achievement. "She has made us proud. We did not win the competition in 2006, so we expected to win this year. This is an honour to the school," she said.

The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs will also erect a borehole at the school, following Tshilidz´s achievement.

"I made it and I am happy that I was able to put my school on the map," a proud Tshilidz said.