Members of the African Schools Debating Championships paid their respects to Nelson Mandela a day after competing in the debating finals
April 21, 2009 – Nelson Mandela today met with the finalists and winners from the fourth annual African Schools Debating Championships (ASDC), which held its finals at the Nelson Mandela Foundation on Monday.
The week-long competition saw top debaters from South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Angola and Kenya pitting their skills against each other. In addition, 16 of South Africa’s top debating schools battled for the title of the best on the continent.
South Africa beat Botswana in the nations final and a combined team of St Dominic’s and Heronbridge Colleges from the Free State emerged as the top debating school team.
Mr Mandela with the finalists from Botswana
The tournament was opened on April 14 by South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni and South African Member of Parliament Professor Ben Turok.
Describing the importance of the debating competition, ASDC organiser Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh said: “Not only does this instil democratic ideals in our students, it also prepares them to lead thoughtfully.”
Nelson Mandela with the South African team who won the international debate