All nine hopefuls who made the final of the Anglo American/Sowetan 2001 Young Communicators Award showed they had the gift of the gab, reports Edwin Naidu
The speeches at the final of the Anglo American/Sowetan 2001 Young communicators Award were of a high quality and touched on contemporary issues, such as South Africa’s ability to stage the 2010 soccer world cup, rape and teenage angst.
Crowd favourite Petronella Makhata of St Boniface High School in Kimberley spoke with such simplicity yet delivered a most powerful message against rapists. Her delivery touched a raw nerve with the audience and proved she was a worthy finalist, and in the eyes of some, a winner.
Dynamic Susanna Schoeman of Hoerskool Rustenburg was deemed the overall winner by the judges. Flamboyant in presentation, the North West pupil spoke in true toastmaster’s fashion, capturing the attention of the judges, the majority of whom represented the Toastmasters. She received a study bursary for R10 000 and her school got R5 000 towards its funds.
Second prizewinner, Asanda Bhuda, from Riebeek College in Uitenhage reflected with humour the serious business of time. Petite dynamo Su-Mari van Deventer of Hoerskool Nylstroom was a deserving third.
Aubrey Adoons of Welkom High School in the Free State spoke on what it meant to be an African. One could hear a pin drop as the audience sat riveted to his compelling argument. He was the only male finalist.
Yolanda Lundt of Hoerskool Augsburg in the Western Cape, Ja’nette Kitshoff of Hoerskool Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, Bridget Mbanjwa of Pietermaritzburg Girls High in KwaZulu-Natal and Catherine Ngobeni of Kgadime Matsepe High in Pretoria completed the impressive list of finalists.
The public speaking contest is aimed at promoting and encouraging excellence in oral English among grade 11 and 12 learners whose home language is not English. The Young Communicators Awards, now in its eighth year, is a Nation Building Project jointly sponsored by mining and natural resources company Anglo American and the Sowetan.
Anglo American divisions Anglo Platinum, Mondi Limited and Anglo Coal also backed the project.
Michael Spicer, executive director of Anglo American said, “The objective of this project is to cultivate an ethos of leadership, learning and personal growth in the youth of today. For the past eight years, Anglo American has thrown its weight behind this nation building initiative. The additional support from our platinum, coal and forest products divisions further demonstrates the group’s dedication and enthusiasm for the Young Communicators Awards.”
Provincial MECs for education agreed to act as patrons in their respective provinces. Commenting on their involvement, editor-in-chief of the Sowetan, Aggrey Klaaste, said: “This movement demonstrates the government’s commitment towards improving the quality of life for the majority of South African citizens. Furthermore, the MECs’ involvement as patrons will go a long way in entrenching this project and in improving the teaching and learning of English language communication.”
Since the Young Communicators Awards began in 1994, Spicer said around 550 learners have participated in the competition. Initiated in only six provinces, the Young Communicators Awards eventually reached all nine provinces for the first time last year. Out of the total of 550, only 92 have become finalists.
“Unfortunately only seven of them could be chosen as the “winning student” over the years. You as finalists have shown today, that we urgently need to revise this title. Every single one of you is a winner,” Spicer said.
– The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg, July 2001.