9-year-old Westridge boy’s art featured in calendar

Nine-year-old Jonah du Plessis from Westridge has achieved recognition in the 2025 Santam Child Art competition, with his artwork selected for the online exhibition featuring in their 2026 calendar.

The achievement continues a remarkable four-generation artistic tradition in the du Plessis family.

Jonah represents the fourth generation of artists, following in the footsteps of his great-grandmother, grandfather, and mother.

Jonah’s great-grandmother previously taught art classes at Westridge Library, establishing a community connection that continues today through his mother, Shelley, who maintains the tradition by conducting art classes every Saturday morning.

The family’s artistic recognition spans decades. In 2003, when Shelley was 11 years old, her artwork was also selected for inclusion in the Foodworld Calendar, demonstrating the sustained creative talent across generations.

Jonah’s selection came from a competitive field, with the Santam Child Art competition receiving more than 2 700 entries for their online 2026 calendar exhibition.

Community art programmes flourish

The importance of community art initiatives was further highlighted during recent school holidays when the Mark Jenecker Foundation held an art therapy holiday programme at Town Centre Library.

Approximately 50 children attended the programme, which combined creative expression with important educational messaging about bullying, child abuse and negativity.

The programme used art as a therapeutic tool to help children process and express their experiences.

The initiative was supported by local businesses, with Dala Paints sponsoring art supplies and Jolly Meats providing snacks for participating children.

Both initiatives demonstrate the continued importance of accessible art programmes in local communities, whether through family traditions like the du Plessis Saturday morning classes at Westridge Library or structured holiday programmes addressing social issues through creative expression.

The Santam Child Art online exhibition will be uploaded to their website during the first quarter of 2026, where Jonah’s work will join other selected pieces from across the country.