KBF Young Writers’ Competition 2025
Congratulations to our winners, runners up, and highly commended entrants!
There were many strong entries this year, so no matter where you placed in your age group, you can be extra proud of being selected.
Age 6–7
Laura Van Zuydam – The Magical Seed, Kingsmead College, Gauteng
Runners up in alphabetical order:
Asmaa Haseena Maasdorp – Growing with My Granny, Kingsmead College, Gauteng
Demi Van der Merwe – Wool Tree Seeds, Eunice Primary School, Free State
Highly Commended in alphabetical order
Ayaan Amien – Grow up, Control Your ADHD, King Edward VII Preparatory School, Gauteng
Azhaaria Vadia – The Interesting Seed, Kingsmead College, Gauteng
Finn De Bruyn – The Root That Went Around the World,De La Salle Holy Cross College Junior School, Gauteng
Gemma Graham – The Boy and the Dragon Bloom,Trompsberg Primary, Free State
Iyana Mhlauli – Watch Me Grow! Cornwall Hill College, Gauteng
Jude Naidoo – Being Brave Is Growing, Holy Childhood School, KwaZulu Natal
Michaela Amperbang – Grow:The Champion of Art, Redhill Junior School, Gauteng
Age 8–9
Anna Strumpher – The Magical Seed, Knysna Montessori School, Western Cape
Runners up in alphabetical order:
Frances Gillibrand – The Missing Paw Paw Seeds, St Teresa’s School, Gauteng
Mia Eagar – The Tough Life of a Seed, Kingsmead College, Gauteng
Highly Commended in alphabetical order:
Benedicta Ngadi – The Scary Root, Cornwall Hill College, Gauteng
Hallelujah Khumalo – The Secret Of The Roots, Redhill Junior School, Gauteng
Joshua Joubert – The Four Roots of the Great Tree, Laerskool Jan Celliers, Gauteng
Kewamodimo Leballo – Grow Petite, Grow, Cornwall Hill College, Gauteng
Matthew Prozesky – The Silly Seed, Cornwall Hill College, Gauteng
Sophia Luus – Friendships Nestled in The Roots, Laerskool Jan Celliers, Gauteng
Thomas Feher – The Dino Who Started To Grow, De La Salle Holy Cross College Junior
Age 10–12
Winner:
Luke Gounden – The Great Roots, St Benedict’s Preparatory, Gauteng
Runners up in alphabetical order:
Adrienne Sales – Bloom:The Journey of a Sunflower, St Teresas School, Gauteng
Asante Ntim – Kole: The Boy Who Chose to Grow, Home schooled, Gauteng
Highly Commended in alphabetical order:
Aaliya Reddy – Bloom Seeds: A Twist in Time, Craighall Primary, Gauteng
Imitha Nyangiwe – Grow: My Complicated Relationship With My Own Brain, St Katherines School, Gauteng.
Isla Carter – Deep Roots, St Katherines School, Gauteng.
James Heron – The Growth of an Extinct Bird,St John’s Preparatory, Gauteng
Kaboentle Ndala – Growing Magic, Redhill School, Gauteng
Karabo Toba – The Cursed Seeds, St John’s Preparatory, Gauteng
Liam Blumberg – The Seeds That Were Lost In The River, Herzlia Highlands, Western Cape
Olivia Pampel – Bloom: Escape from Ukraine, Brescia House, Gauteng
Olivia Neille – The Dry Seeds, De La Salle Holy Cross College Junior School, Gauteng
Tarek Bhana – Roots:Odyssey from India to South Africa, St Johns Preparatory, Gauteng
Age 13–15
Winner: Anina Reed – Timeless Roots, International School of Cape Town, Western Cape
Runners upin alphabetical order:
Anna Monametsi – As The Rock Giant Grows, Home schooled, Western Cape
Othandwayo Skenjana – The Problem Growing a Dragon Seed, Hatfield Online School, Gauteng
Highly Commended:
Ameera Bhamjee – Just a Bloom Away, Houghton Muslim Academy
Kainan Potts – Bloom Disease, Home schooled, Western Cape
Sophie Wolstenholme – Roots, Kingsmead College, Gauteng
Lomso Mvunelo –Southside Bloom, Curro New Road High School, Gauteng
Letlotlo Sekhejane – Roots:Life in the Township,Ntha Primary School, Free State
Sam Cooke – Roots of the Golden Tennis Ball, St John’s College, Gauteng
Zoey Grove – Seeds and Mulch, Uplands College, Mpumalanga
Age 16–18
Winner: Kate Rankin – Bloom to Blade, Somerset College, Western Cape
Runners Up:
Liso Siswana – Buried Seeds, Buried Secrets, St Johns College, Gauteng
Maya Russell – The World Is A Seed, St Cyprians, Western Cape
Highly commended in alphabetical order:
Cara Moore – Sunflower Seeds, Parktown High School for Girls, Gauteng
Chloe du Plessis – The Seeds of The Chestnut Tree, Springfield Convent School of the Holy Rosary, Western Cape
Faheemah Surty – Ink and Identity Bloom, Ashton International College
Leano Mathibe – Seeds of Power Sown in the Mind,St Mary’s DSG Pretoria, Gauteng
Lebone Ramokgopa – The Last Bloom, St John’s Sixth Form, Gauteng
Lucy Machanik – Life and Growth, Wynberg Girls High School, Western Cape
Tara Thorvaldsen – Roots Beneath, Bones Above, Springfield Convent, Western Cape
Read the winning, runner-up and highly commended stories in our eBook below:
Queries can be sent to: KBFYoungWriters@gmail.com
Please note NO ENTRIES to be sent to this email – they will not be entered.
