Botlhale Boikanyo Shares Poetry at Bana Pele Summit

South African poet Botlhale Boikanyo has shared a powerful poetry performance at the Bana Pele Vision 2030 Leadership Summit, where she had the opportunity to showcase her talent in the presence of President Cyril Ramaphosa and other leaders.

The 25-year-old poet shared a video of her performance on social media, giving her followers a glimpse of the moving moment. Her poetry highlighted the importance of investing in children, their dreams and their future.

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A post shared by Botlhale Boikanyo (@botlhaleboikanyo)

The Bana Pele Vision 2030 Leadership Summit 2026 is a two-day national gathering focused on accelerating early childhood development (ECD) and expanding access to quality early learning by 2030. The summit was hosted by the Department of Basic Education, led by Minister Siviwe Gwarube, with President Cyril Ramaphosa delivering a keynote address.

Reflecting on the experience, Boikanyo expressed her gratitude for being part of the important national conversation and sharing her message through poetry.

“What an honor it was to share my poetry at the Bana Pele Vision 2030 Leadership Summit, in the presence of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube and leaders across sectors. This platform serves as a profound reminder of our collective responsibility to shape the future of our children,” she wrote.

She explained that her poem encouraged people to look beyond statistics and recognise the individual dreams and potential of every child.

“My poem asked us to look beyond the statistics and see the little girl reaching for the stars, the little boy imagining who he might become, and the child taking their first steps into a world of possibility,” she added.

Boikanyo also shared why the subject holds personal significance for her. Growing up, she witnessed her mother’s dedication to education, which helped shape her understanding of the importance of creating opportunities for young people.

“This conversation is deeply personal to me. I grew up watching my mother @mumsy_boikanyo dedicate her life to education, first as a teacher and now through her own ECD centre. Through my foundation, I continue to champion youth empowerment and arts education. And my own journey was shaped by a teacher who recognised the storyteller in me before I fully understood the power of my voice,” she shared.

The poet also reflected on performing alongside the Children’s Choir and Amazwi Choir, whose young voices added to the significance of the occasion.

“Performing alongside the Children’s Choir and Amazwi Choir, whose young voices embodied the dreams and possibilities at the heart of this moment, was a beautiful reminder that our children aren’t just the future we’re building; they are already its storytellers, dreamers and changemakers,” she wrote.

Concluding her message, Boikanyo thanked the Department of Basic Education for including the arts in the conversation and acknowledged her sister, Nomzamo Mbatha, for introducing her at the event.

“Thank you to the @dbe_za for creating space for the arts in this important national conversation, and to my Sis Nomzamo Mbatha for the beautiful introduction.”