Pictured -In the middle from left with Red Jacket ( Palesa Mohau ; Paledi Amohelang Position 3 Setchaba se Maketse High School) Middle black and gold Winner Oratile Motseki from Mamellang Thuto High School and Paledi Amohelang and Nobela Zimkhitha position 2 from Nanabolela High School flanked by Adjudicators
By Marcus Motshegwa
Bloemfontein
A 17 year-old, Oratile Motseki, a learner from Mamello Thuto High School in Bothaville under the Lejweleputswa District Municipality has won the South African Youth Water Prize (SAYWP) Competition award following the competitions that were held on 31 March 2026 in Bloemfontein, Free State. The learner will represent the province at the final adjudications of the competition to be held on 29 th May 2026 in Gauteng.
The SAYWP competition is part of the Department’s Water & Sanitation Education Programme (WSEP), which aims to educate learners about water use efficiency, protection of water resources, health and hygiene, as well as how to identify and remove invasive alien plants in our water resources. The program is in collaboration with numerous public and private stakeholders, with the Department of Education (DoE) being an important role player.
The SAYWP competition is hosted yearly, one of the science & technology-based action programmes of the Water & Sanitation Education Programme (WSEP). The competition was attended by Grade 9 to 11 learners studying pure mathematics and science subject from 14 schools across Free State. Oratile Motseki developed a prototype project called Smart Water Board, which focused on prevention of water losses in a form of leaking pipes by municipalities.
The prototype is made to detects water leaks and alert the municipality on the exact location. He won a laptop and R11 000 prize. He will also receive a bursary to study at any higher education institution of his choice. Should the learner also become a winner at the final competitions, he will represent the country at the Junior Water Prize competitions organised by Stockholm International Water Institute in Sweden.
Nanabolela Senior Secondary from Welkom in Lejweleputswa District Municipality took the second position with a R 9 500 prize, a Bursary, and a laptop. Sechaba se Maketse High School from Botshabelo in Mangaung Metropolitan took a third position and walked away with a consolation prize of R7 500.
For the competition, learners brought with their well detailed projects supported by both physical projects and supporting documentations as a proof of ownership. Leaners were given option to choose from Invention category, detailing on the engineering prototype. They also presented on the Awareness category. Which focused more on awareness regarding water and sanitation challenges at their school environment, or at their community. Their
presentations entailed tangible solutions to the problems they have encountered in their environment.
According to the provincial overall winner, Oratile Motseki his school participated for the first time in the Department’s WSEP programme. “For us to be the first timer participants and able to take position one winners, it says a lot about the amount of work we have invested in the project. I also give credit to my educator, Mr Maseola, who has been instrumental in helping me to put together my vision into a final visible project.
I would also like to give thanks to both Mr Metswi and Mr Lesiba from Vaal Central Water for their helpful advice on the technical aspect of the project”, said Oratile Motseki. Oratile Motseki now has the final responsibility to improve his project and perfect it for the upcoming National Adjudications of SAYWP competitions. Zimkitha Nobetha, a learner from Nanabolela Secondary School who obtained position 2, said the competition was on a highest level with fellow leaners bringing with their best projects that are so relevant to the topics and the theme of the Department of Water and Sanitation.
“I am grateful to partake in the competition, and this paved way for me to work toward a career in the water and sanitation sector. I will also take the recommendations made by the adjudicators to improve on my project, in preparation for next year’s competitions”, said Nobetha.
