EAST LONDON, South Africa --- In a cluster of cabin classrooms nestled among the wildlife-rich hills of the Eastern Cape, seventeen of South Africa's most eloquent young voices recently emerged from what has become the nation's best showcase of teenage oratory: the National Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships, under the auspices of the South African Independent Schools' Public Speaking Association (SAISPSA).
EAST LONDON, South Africa --- In a cluster of cabin classrooms nestled among the wildlife-rich hills of the Eastern Cape, seventeen of South Africa's most eloquent young voices recently emerged from what has become the nation's best showcase of teenage oratory: the National Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships, under the auspices of the South African Independent Schools' Public Speaking Association (SAISPSA).
The September gathering at Merrifield Preparatory School and College, skillfully orchestrated by a dedicated team of teacher volunteers from schools across the country, demonstrated how youth voices can challenge society's most pressing issues.
The competition's categories -- interpretive reading, persuasive speaking, impromptu speaking and debate -- demand a versatility that mirrors South Africa's own need for adaptability. The challenging speech topics reflected a generation unafraid to confront controversial issues, from gender-based violence to sporting ethics.
The speeches ranged from deeply personal explorations of "Why women stay in abusive relationships" to cultural commentaries on "The importance of rap music and listening to black art". One finalist delivered a searing analysis entitled "Africa -- a land of the neglected and the used", while another examined "The lack of youth representation in politics".
The stakes were particularly high this year. Some previous champions have faced an anticlimactic end to their journeys, with financial constraints preventing them from attending the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships. Sygnia's Stargazer Fund, known for helping parents secure their children's futures through tax-free savings accounts, has changed that narrative by ensuring that every qualifier can make the journey to Malaysia in April 2025.
"When we heard that some of these brilliant young speakers were being held back by lack of means we felt we had to step in. This is such a natural extension of Sygnia's commitment to youth development. Now, that same forward-thinking approach is helping to ensure that financial constraints don't limit the horizons of the country's most promising youngsters," said Magda Wierzycka, Sygnia CEO.
The South African team are now preparing for the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships taking place in Malaysia in 2025. There they will meet high-school champions from all around the world including Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, the United States and Lithuania. Next year's championships in South Africa will be held at St Mary's School for Girls, Waverley, from 17 - 20 October 2025.