Author: admin

Tournament snapshot
Date: 2 August 2025
Venue: Mitchel House
Number of rooms used: 15
Number of debates: 3 rounds for seniors and juniors

Eager debaters from across the region gathered for our 31st tournament . It was a cool late winter’s morning and many learners braved the weather for last league tournament of the year. Khathutshelo Mainganye and Neo Mosomane were celebrated for their international achievements. Khathutshelo represented South Africa at the Pre-Worlds Schools Debating Championship, Mexico and Neo represented South Africa at the Asian Worlds Schools Debating Championship, Thailand.

Spotlight
Top teams
Grade 8-9
1st place: Hoerskool Noorderland took first place with a total score of 647 points .
2nd place: Hoerskool Noorderland also took second place with 636 points.

Grade 10-12
1st place: Pepps won with a total score 670 points.
2nd place: Taxilla Secondary School with 662 points .

Top Speakers
Grade 8-9

1. Onthatile Thema from Taxilla secondary took first place as best speaker with a total of 239 Speakingpoints
2. Tshepiso Seleise from Capricorn Highschool took second place with a total of 230 speaking points.
3. Makeda Lekganyane from Taxilla secondary took third place as best speaker with a total of 225speaking points .

Grade 10-12

1. Chantelle Malope from Eagles Nest Christian School took first place , with a total of 231 speaking points.
2. Bokang Mashishi from Speak Smart Academy took second place with a total of 230 speaking points.
3. Bontle Mphahlele from Hoerskool Noorderland took third place with a total of 228 speaking points.

Debates for the day
Juniors
Round 1: Prisoners should be entitled to a good living standard.
Round 2: South Africa should Remain Neutral in global conflicts like (Ukraine and Russia or Palestine and Israel)
Round 3: Teachers should always “sugar coat” academic performance ie providing compliments, not scolding.

Seniors
Round 1: National health insurance is a necessary action by the state for improving national health care .
Round 2: Political parties based on religious ideologies should be banned.
Round 3: Assuming feasibility, we should tax and redistribute happiness.

Growth watch
Speak Smart Academy joined the tournament for the first time. Speak Smart Academy is coaching initiative pioneered by Thapelo Moyaba and Lehlogonolo Letsoalo. We look forward to seeing their speakers continue to compete at our tournaments.

Motions for league tournaments scheduled for Quarter 3 2025 are available. Please make sure you prepare the motions for your league.

Polokwane
Junior:
R1: Prisoners should be entitled to a good living standard.
R2: South Africa should remain neutral in global conflicts (like Ukraine is Russia or Palestine and Israel) if it benefits them.

Senior:
R1: The National Health Insurance is a necessary action by the state for improving national healthcare.
R2: Political parties based on religious ideologies should be banned.

Turfloop/Seshego
Junior:
R1: Mathematical Literacy should be banned.
R2: The fast fashion industry should be banned.

Senior:
R1: Cancel culture has done more harm than good.
R2: South Africa should introduce mandatory military service for all post- high school or 19 year old youths.

Myngenoegen
R1: Learners that are ahead academically should be allowed to skip a grade.
R2: Examinations should be banned.

Central
R1: Winning is more important than participating.
R2: Society should become vegan.

Polokwane
Junior:
R1: Medical doctors should be banned from prescribing herbal medicine remedies. (i.e. dentists offering cloves for cavities or doctors curing cancer with diets.)
R2: South Africa should leave the African Union.

Senior:
R1: Social movements should not transform into political parties. 
R2: South Africa should prioritise its relationship with the USA over its position in BRICS.

Turfloop/Seshego
Senior:
R1: Ex-offenders should be allowed to be elected for political office.
R2: The government should prioritise developing townships rather than integrating lower income earners into urban areas. 

Junior:
R1: Dictators should be allowed to rule if they increase the quality of life for citizens. 
R2: Online school has done more harm than good 

Central
R1: The Government of National Unity (GNU) has done more harm than good. 
R2: South Africa should allow 16 year olds to get a driver’s licence.

Myngenoegen
R1: Tiktok should be banned. 
R2: Artificial Intelligence is doing more harm than good.

The proposed calendar of events for this year is available on our calendar page. We will be running 13 events this year.

As more schools hear about our tournaments we aim to add a league or two to our calendar.

The more detailed calendar is available for download. I have included a room limit so that hosts have an idea of how many rooms are needed for the tournament to run at their school.

This morning I received a letter from one of the learners I coach. She asked ,”Mr Mash… I wanted to ask if we’ll ever have debating again?” After I took a deep breathe , I was relieved to respond, “Yes, there is debating again…”

Continue reading Director’s Note

SA Junior Trials was hosted on Discord from 5 January 2021 – 7 January 2021. Six rounds of debating together with several hours in selection meetings culminated in the announcement of the SA Junior team and the SA Junior Development team on Sunday afternoon.

Continue reading Results from SA Junior Trials

The South African Schools Debating Board (SASDB) senior coaches hosted SA Senior Trials on 15 January 2021 via Discord. Debaters from all over South Africa joined in on the call to vie for the coveted spots on the SA teams.

Continue reading Results from SA Senior Trials