South Africa's schools step up and deliver: Kiwi crowns Step Up to Step In winners

Kiwi, South Africa's most trusted shoe care brand with a legacy spanning over 119 years, today announces the winners of the Step Up to Step In Schools Tin Collection Competition. Rooted in Kiwi's commitment to reigniting pride, purpose and relevance among South Africa's youth, the competition invited schools across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng to collect as many empty Kiwi tins as possible, with cash prizes earmarked for school facility refurbishments up for grabs.

The response from learners, teachers and communities was nothing short of remarkable. From township schools in Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal's Eastern coastline, South Africa's youth proved exactly what Kiwi has always believed: when you give young people a reason to step up, they show up fully, proudly and with purpose.

Congratulations to the winning schools:

Gauteng

1st place: Langaville Primary School | Prize: R50,000
2nd place: Itemogele Primary School | Prize: R25,000
3rd place: Tsakane ext.22 Mega Primary School | Prize: R10,000

KwaZulu-Natal

1st place: Mandlakazulu Primary School | Prize: R50,000
2nd place: Sandasonke Primary School | Prize: R25,000
3rd place: Phumelela Senior Primary School | Prize: R10,000

The Schools Tin Collection Competition is rooted in a truth that Kiwi has long set out to change, that for too long, polishing shoes has been a chore something learners do to avoid punishment, not something they do with pride. Kiwi believes it should be so much more than that.

By turning the humble, empty Kiwi tin into a token of community action and school pride, the competition asked learners to see value in the everyday and to channel that into something tangible for their schools. The prize money won by each school is for facility refurbishment and improvement, ensuring that every tin collected translates into real, lasting impact for the communities and children these schools serve.

"We are incredibly proud of every school that took part in the Step Up to Step In Schools Competition. What we witnessed was more than a tin collection, it was communities coming together with a shared sense of purpose and pride. At Kiwi, we have always believed that when you give young South Africans a reason to step up, they deliver beyond expectation. The prize money these schools have won is not just a reward, it is an investment in the spaces where the next generation learns, grows and dreams. We hope it serves as a lasting reminder that their effort and their shine, truly matters," said Kashmal Patel, associate manager Shoe Care, SC Johnson.

Part of a bigger movement

The Schools Tin Collection Competition ran from January to February 2026 as the second phase of the Step Up to Step In campaign, a wide-reaching initiative designed to re-embed Kiwi into the cultural and emotional journey of South Africa's youth, from school life to their biggest dreams.

Phase one of the campaign launched in November 2025, inviting consumers to purchase any Kiwi promo pack, polish their shoes and WhatsApp their entry for a chance to win their share of R2.1m in prizes, including grand prize bursaries and funds to fuel after-school ambitions. The campaign was brought to life through a series of high-energy school roadshows, taxi rank activations and the KwaMahlobo Games community soccer sponsorship in Soweto's Meadowlands, putting Kiwi at the heart of the communities it has served for over a century.

The Step Up to Step In campaign was amplified by some of South Africa's most authentic and influential voices, including influencers Robot Boii and Bontle Modiselle, both of whom brought the campaign's rallying cry to life across digital platforms and school stages. Their personal stories of stepping up resonated deeply with the youth the campaign was built for, turning Kiwi's message of polish, pride and preparation into a genuine cultural moment.

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