On 14 May 2026, Ndinae Kevinae Mapila (Ma Kaiwen) from the Green Technology Confucius Institute (GTCI) at the University of Venda (UNIVEN) got the second prize at the South Africa Finals of the 25th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, held at the University of the Western Cape. Competing against 22 top students from leading South African universities, including the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, Rhodes University, University of Johannesburg, and Durban University of Technology, Kevinae stood out, and his achievement marks the best result in UNIVEN’s history. Another contestant from UNIVEN, Tshililo Khwathisi (Wang Li), was awarded with an encouraging prize.
The “Chinese Bridge” competition was themed “One World, One Family” and consisted of three sections: a written test (knowledge of China), a themed speech (Chinese Language Ability), and a talent showcase (Chinese Cultural Skills), comprehensively evaluating contestants’ Chinese proficiency and learning achievements. In the opening written examination round, Ndinae Kevinae Mapila scored an outstanding 95 points, tying for first place and laying a solid foundation for his exceptional performance in the subsequent stages of the competition.
In the subsequent speech section, contestants shared their personal China stories and interpretations of the theme “One World, One Family”. Drawing on his experience visiting the ancient chime bells in Wuhan, Hubei Province, Mapila Ndinae Kevinae spoke about his understanding of the philosophy of “harmony in diversity”. In his speech, he explained that the most distinctive feature of the chime bells is their ability to produce “two tones from one bell”—when struck at different points, a single bell generates two distinct yet harmonious musical notes. He said that this perfectly reflected his understanding of “One World, One Family”: although people come from different civilisations and express different voices, a spirit of inclusiveness allows mutual respect and harmonious coexistence despite differences.
Another contestant from GTCI, Tshililo Khwathisi (Wang Li), shared his experiences from participating in a “Chinese Bridge” student exchange program in China. During his time in Wuhan, he witnessed China’s social development firsthand and experienced the warmth and friendliness of the Chinese people. He recalled that whenever he heard the welcoming greetings of local China residents, he felt as though the winding Yangtze River was connecting people across the world. In his speech, he mentioned that, as the younger generation, they have a responsibility to explore the world and to build more bridges. His remarks offered a profound interpretation of the theme “One World, One Family.”
During the talent section, Tshililo Khwathisi (Wang Li) performed a medley of the Chinese songs ‘I rise to face the World and Song of the Mermaid.’ With his melodious voice, dynamic delivery, and engaging stage presence, he took the audience into a captivating musical world. Mapila Ndinae Kevinae then took the stage to recite the Tang Dynasty classic ‘Invitation to Wine’. With his spirited energy and passionate performance, he captured the audience’s attention from the very first line. Through his powerful yet lyrical delivery, he immersed the audience in the bold and majestic spirit of the Tang Dynasty. Following the poetry recitation, Kevinae surprised the audience with a Tai Chi sword performance. As he delivered the final sweeping strike, the venue erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.
At the end, Mapila Ndinae Kevinae secured second prize with an overall third place ranking in the competition. This marks the first breakthrough for UNIVEN in this world-renowned Chinese language contest and represents a significant milestone for the GTCI since its establishment two years ago. As a non-Chinese major who had studied Chinese for only two years through GTCI’s interest classes, Kevinae made history.
From UNIVEN to the national stage, and from the Chinese classroom to the forefront of international cultural exchange, the two GTCI students demonstrated the outstanding qualities of UNIVEN’s young scholars through their impressive language skills, confident stage presence, and deep understanding of Chinese culture. Their achievements also highlight GTCI’s remarkable success in advancing international Chinese-language education and promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and South Africa.
Warm congratulations to the two GTCI contestants for their outstanding achievements! Sincere thanks are extended to GTCI instructors Mr.Ted XIONG and Ms. Gloria GUI, sponsoring organisations, and everyone who has accompanied and encouraged the students throughout their journey of growth. Special appreciation goes to the event organiser, the Confucius Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University of the Western Cape.
Looking ahead, the GTCI will continue to use the Chinese language as a bridge to cultivate more outstanding talents with global perspectives and intercultural communicative competence, contributing to deeper exchanges and cooperation between China and South Africa in education, humanities, and technology.
Below are photos of other contestants:
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
