Teachers from schools across the Cape Flats have earned recognition at the 2026 Western Cape Provincial Teaching Awards, with several educators taking home top honours in categories celebrating teaching, leadership and specialist skills.
The annual awards recognise the province’s outstanding teachers and highlight the work taking place in classrooms and schools across the Western Cape. This year, Cape Flats educators featured prominently among the provincial winners, with five teachers receiving awards or runner-up honours.
Gameeda Abrahams from Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park received the Kader Asmal Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognises a long-standing contribution to education and is one of the most significant honours presented at the provincial awards.
Athina Dennis from Oval North High School in Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain, was awarded the Best Teacher Award. Her recognition places her among the province’s top educators for 2026.
Antonio Michaels from Blackheath Secondary School received the Excellence in Secondary School Leadership award, recognising his contribution to leadership within the secondary school environment.
At Rouxville Primary School in Belhar, Evelyn Moodley was recognised with the Excellence in Teaching Natural Sciences award.
Ra’eesah Ford-Maistry from Nerina Primary School in Bonteheuwel was named first Runner-Up in the Excellence in Primary School Teaching category.
The recognition was not limited to the Cape Flats. Teachers from schools across the Western Cape were also honoured in a range of categories.
Other winners were:
- Brenda Simani-Phike from Masiphumelele Primary School won the Excellence in Primary School Leadership award.
- Zerena Barendilla from Queen’s Park High School won the Excellence in Secondary School Teaching award.
- Ambrosia Pheiffer from Fraaisig Primary School won the Excellence in Primary School Teaching award.
- Hortense Stegmann from Welgemoed Primary School won the Excellence in Technology Enhanced Teaching and Learning award.
- Mthobi Fihla from Phakamisani Primary School won the Inclusive Education Leadership award.
- Janine Makka from Atlantis Secondary School won the Excellence in Teaching Physical Sciences award.
- Helena Kalp from Swartland High School won the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (FET) award.
- Andhika Mahabeer from Edgemead Primary School won the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (GET) award.
- Monique Basson from Forest Village Leadership Academy won the Excellence in Teaching Life Skills (Grade 1 – 6) award.
- Cindy Dreyer from Oudtshoorn School of Skills won the Excellence in Inclusive Education Teaching award.
- Danielle Bosch from Koos Sadie Primary School won the Excellence in Grade R Teaching award.
For Western Cape Provincial Minister of Education Jaco Londt, the awards are about more than academic results or classroom performance. Londt delivered his first keynote address as Western Cape Minister of Education at the ceremony and described teaching as a calling.
“The National Teaching Awards are not just about excellent lesson plans or matric results, although those matter greatly. They are about something deeper. They are about a calling,” said Londt.
Head of Education Brent Walters also thanked the nominees in his welcome address. He highlighted their commitment to ensuring that every child in the province has the opportunity to receive a quality education.
The 2026 ceremony marks the 26th year of the awards, which celebrate excellence in the teaching profession across the province.
The provincial winners will now move forward as nominees for the National Teaching Awards, where they will compete for national recognition.
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