LIMPOPO – Two bright young 16-year-old minds from Maphokwane High School, Mokgadi Shayi and Jessica Malatji, made their school proud by winning first place at the district debate competition hosted by the Department of Transport and Community Safety.

The talented Gr 11 duo won under the topic, Distracted driving is a growing South African epidemic, impressing judges with their well-researched arguments, confident delivery, and strong teamwork, earning them the top spot and praise from their school and community.

Their victory comes after months of dedicated preparation under the guidance of their mentor and teacher, Pfukani Mloche, who teaches Gr 10 and 11.

Mloche praised the learners for their hard work and commitment. “I am so proud of our learners for their outstanding achievement. Their dedication, teamwork, hard work, and passion truly paid off,” she said.

She also stated that she began mentoring them in February, preparing them specifically for this competition. Mloche mentioned that the preparation process was thorough and included in-depth research, gathering relevant information, mock debates, and practising responses to tough counterarguments.

“Our preparation involved thorough research on the topic and effective practice. Mock debates helped us refine our arguments and sharpen our rebuttals,” she explained.

However, balancing debate preparations with academics proved to be challenging, especially during the short duration of term two. She said that despite the challenges, the team found ways to stay on track by using holidays and break times for practice.

Furthermore, over the past two years, the school has achieved notable success in debate competitions, including victories at the prestigious Walk and Learn on the Wild Side debate held in Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation debate hosted at Foskor Primary School.

Mloche emphasised the importance of debate in shaping young minds. “Debate competitions do not just win us trophies, they build critical thinking, research, and communication skills. These are essential for developing informed, engaged, and active citizens,” she concluded.