The love of STEM burned brightly at Gogo Makhotha’s home on 26 December event hosted by the Elevate Club as more than 50 children from Grade RR to recent matriculants gathered for a day of learning, innovation and celebration. Despite heavy rains earlier that morning, clear skies welcomed the kids as they arrived eagerly at 10:00. For many of them, the day had special meaning.
“Some parents told me their children were saying, ‘Today is the best of the best day, please take me to Gogo Makhotha’s home!’” Phumla Nkonde, the chairperson and founding member of the club shared.
The event opened with a first-of-its-kind 5km fun run from the nearby village of Mkhumulo—humorously named “remove your jacket.” Excitement was high as children lined up on the gravel road, determined to sprint their way to the finish line at Gogo Makhotha’s gate.
Bandile Sukazi, representing the family’s third generation, secured the first gold medal with an impressive performance. In total, five gold medals and ten silver medals were awarded, with two girls among the silver winners. All other participants proudly received bronze medals for completing the race.
The programme continued with an inspiring address from Nomzamo Makhotha, a drone pilot and member of the family’s first generation of grandchildren. She shared her journey in aviation and emphasised the critical role of mathematics in her field.
“I am not just flying a drone,” she said. “I passed mathematics in high school, and that opened the path for me to qualify as a drone pilot. There is a lot of maths and problem-solving involved in flying a drone.”
When she asked the children if they would like to fly one, a loud and unanimous “yes!” echoed across the gathering—giving her the perfect opportunity to reinforce the importance of aiming high in mathematics.
Under the theme “Robot Design Thinking,” groups of children then brainstormed solutions to challenges facing their community of Maserijini. While many groups impressed, it was the team calling themselves Manarator that stood out. Their project tackled water scarcity, presenting a clear problem statement, identifying key stakeholders, and outlining their role in promoting water-saving awareness. They also proposed practical techniques for monitoring water levels and detecting leaks at household level. The judges; Siyabonga, Nomusa and Nomzamo were impressed about the presentations.
The final activity of the day brought colour and excitement as Siyabonga Nkonde and Nomzamo led a session on making paper planes and cranes using brightly coloured papers—matching the Elevate Club’s logo. Soon, the field was filled with soaring paper planes, some gliding above the stretch tent as children experimented with their designs.
The event ended with cheers and laughter, with Gogo Makhotha and her neighbours proudly celebrating the children’s achievements. At one point, she joked enthusiastically, “Next year, all the grannies must join the fun run—and I will lead them!”
(Nombulelo Zulu (Club Treasure), Erica Zulu(Member), Phumla Nkonde ( Club Chairperson) and Nomusa Keninda ( Founder of the Mpumalanga ICT Club and Mentor to the club)
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