POLOKWANE – MEPS Gr 9 learners Malebo Molele and Tshepang Mojapelo participated in the 2024 Pan-African Debating Championship, held from July 1-4 at Roedean School in Johannesburg. They won five out of six debates with confidence.

Accompanied by Gr 4 teacher and head of the debate team, René Kidd, the learners competed against over 200 other participants.

“These girls are truly on a winning streak,” Kidd said. “Winning five out of six debates, they were also the best speakers against the Kenyans and won the informal game night with a tricky quiz, which qualified them for the quarter-finals.”

The tournament began with an orientation session for the adjudication panel and participants to ensure a common understanding of the format and scoring criteria.

During the preliminary rounds, the learners debated various topics, with one team proposing the motion and the other opposing it in each debate.

Debaters earned individual and team points from each debate, and judges provided feedback at the end of each round.

The tournament will culminate in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final rounds, ending with an award ceremony to recognise the achievements of debaters and adjudicators.

“We are incredibly proud of them. Well done. All the best for the quarter-finals,” said school principal Pitsi Sandy.