October 10, 2005
By Rose Setshoge
PINT-sized learners sat on the edge of their seats, all holding their breaths as Luther Williamson, the managing director of City Parks, counted down on 6 October to announce the winner of this year's My Dream Park competition.
Finally, a delighted Santo Mlanga of Ebony Primary School, in Ebony Park, stepped on to the mini stage at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens to claim first prize for his school.
Unlike the other entrants, who had formed teams to compete for the annual prize, Mlanga had designed a park on his own. There were 60 schools shortlisted in the competition.
Mlanga, 14, is in grade six and attends art lessons after school with Mishack Mashathi, a parent who voluntarily teaches art classes every Wednesday. The children are taught how to communicate through painting and drawing.
The winning entry
"I am glad that Santo won because it shows the skills and creativity that are being instilled in the children," Mashathi said. "I hope it will encourage other children to enter the competition next year."
The prize - won for the school - is a park with water features, an interactive landscape, play equipment, a food garden, benches, plants and paving to the value of R250 000. It will be installed before the next My Dream Park competition in 2006.
"Santo made the school and the parents proud," said Floyd Malinga, the headmaster. "We did not think that we would be shortlisted, nor win the first prize."
Pholosho Primary School came second, winning gardens worth R150 000, while Iputheng Primary School took third place, winning gardens worth R100 000. They are both in Alexandra.
This year's competition was a little different from last year's, in that last year there was only one winner.
Makhoarane Primary School, one of the shortlisted entrants, explained its My Dream Park concept at the prize giving. It would include a first aid room, a security guard, a fire station, a feeding kitchen, traditional dancers to attract tourism and a vegetable garden to promote healthy eating.
"Although some of the schools were creative enough to position facilities for safety and food, we were looking for a real, simple park that is spacious and [where] children can play," said Nomkhosi Khumalo, one of the adjudicators.
Other schools that made it on to the shortlist were Zithathele, Daxina, Lenasia Muslim, Sizwele School for the Deaf, Thabang and Constantia Kloof. Each school had five learners per group, except Ebony Primary.
All the shortlisted schools were given bags filled with T-shirts, books, miniature radios and calculators, sponsored by Total SA, City Parks, Primedia Outdoor and Juta Books.
The adjudicators were drawn from the Gauteng department of education and the sponsors.
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