Western Cape teachers shine at National Batho Pele and Innovation Awards

Western Cape teachers and officials achieved multiple accolades at the National Batho Pele and Innovation Awards (NBP&IA), held in Kempton Park.

The awards are designed to recognise and reward outstanding performance, innovation, and commitment to service excellence across the public sector.

Sipho Manzini, a teacher at Mfuleni High School in the Metro North Education District, shared the bronze award for Innovations Harnessing Technology for Frontline Services.

He also received the Special Ministerial Award – Public Sector Trailblazers. His project, WebAdmin, is an AI-powered platform that provides digital workstations for educators.

According to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), it enables teachers to integrate artificial intelligence into their everyday work by using their smartphones or laptops together with a customized smart card.

To date, the platform has been implemented in 9 schools, with over 250 teachers actively using WebAdmin to enhance their teaching and streamline their workflow.

"Our Communications team, led by Director of Communications, Bronagh Hammond, received the bronze award for Best service delivery institution or department. The award recognises their outstanding admissions communications campaign, sharing the 'Don't Wait!' message with parents seeking to apply for a place in a school in our province," said Provincial MEC for Education, David Maynier.

"Our Examinations team, led by acting Chief Director for Assessment and Examinations, Lucia Bredenkamp, received the bronze award for Innovation Harnessing Technology (ICT or non-ICT solutions). The award recognises the outstanding work the team has done to manage the matric exam process, from registering candidates, to support their wellbeing and preparations for the marking process.

Manzini said he was thrilled to receive the award: "Receiving these awards means the world to me. It shows that the project I have built is finally gaining the recognition it deserves, and it strengthens my belief that WebAdmin can become a powerful tool to digitally transform schools across South Africa.

Hammond said she was delighted to be recognised: "Our advocacy and parental support programmes, such as the pop-up admission centres, have resulted in increased admission numbers during the March/April application period thus reducing the overall number of late applications.

"While we will always receive late applications due to a variety of reasons, such as new job opportunities in other areas, change in family circumstances or complete apathy by parents, the increased advocacy, with the support of our media partners, has ensured that all parents receive the message: Don't Wait!"

Lucia Bredenkamp, WCED acting Chief Director: Assessment and Examinations, stated: "It's an honour and a privilege for the hard work and innovation of Western Cape Examinations Administration team to be recognised at the National Batho Pele and Innovation awards. "

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