Atlehang Malemane

Nine-year-old chess sensation Atlehang Malemane has raised more than R105,000 through a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign to compete in the Commonwealth Chess Championships 2026 in Sri Lanka. The effort, started by her mother Mpho Malemane earlier this month, exceeded its R102,240 target before the registration deadline. Atlehang will now represent Team South Africa from May 16 to 26.