2013 SAASTA National Schools Debates

During the course of 2012, SAASTA sent out a call to schools across the country to participate in the 2013 Schools Debates Competition. Due to the popularity of the competition as well as the fact that it is limited to a maximum of 10 schools per province i.e. 90 schools nationwide, SAASTA had to implement a selection process.  Interested school were asked to write and submit an essay on a given topic. Essays were then adjudicate and the top performing schools chosen to compete.

Essay Topic

In just a matter of days one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century – penicillin – will cease to exist. It is up to you to prove this discovery’s worth by using five of the arguments for science communication (utilitarian, socio-cultural, economic, advancement of science and democratisation of science).

Congratulations to the following schools that produced the best essays:

Eastern Cape – Collegiate Girls’ High (81%)
Free State – Eunice High School (74%)
Gauteng – Crawford College Pretoria (82.5%)
KwaZulu-Natal – St Mary’s DSG (65.5%)
Limpopo – Taxila Secondary School (58%)
Mpumalanga – Suikerland Secondary School (52%)
North West – Sol Plaatjie Secondary School (58%)
Northern Cape – Kimberley Boys’ High School (71%)
Western Cape – Cape Pinelands High School (67.5%)

Provincial Topic and Resources

Topic
Nanotechnology – Can responsible application of nanotechnology for water purification be a viable and sustainable alternative for addressing water needs?

The provincial winners

Eastern Cape
Best Speaker – Rachel Gardiner (Hudson Park High School)
3rd – Selborne College
2nd – Collegiate Girls’ High School
1st – Hudson Park High School

Free State
Best Speaker –  Martina Malay (St Michael’s High)
3rd – Welkom High School
2nd – Eunice High School
1st – St Michael’s High School for Girls

Gauteng
Best Speaker – Antonio Dos Santos (Edenvale High School)
3rd – Pretoria Technical High School
2nd – Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
1st – Crawford College Pretoria

KwaZulu-Natal
Best Speaker – Phiwokuhle Nxumalo (Sibusisiwe Comprehensive Technical High School)
3rd – Maritzburg College
2nd – St Mary’s DSG
1st – Pinetown Girls’ High School

Limpopo
Best Speaker – Musa Rangata (St Bede’s High School)
3rd – Taxila Secondary School
2nd – St Bede’s High School
1st – Northern Academy

Mpumalanga
Best Speaker – Mariana Makuwa (Mashishing Secondary School)
3rd – Dlomodlomo Secondary School
2nd – Lowveld High School
1st – Mashishing Secondary School

North West
Best Speaker – Rhoda Mokoena (Letsatsing Science High School)
3rd – Batlhaping High School
2nd – Latsatsing Science High School
1st – Sol Plaatje Secondary School

Northern Cape
Best Speaker – Siamkele Thompson (Kimberley Boys’ High School)
3rd – Postmasburg High School
2nd – Kimberley Girls’ High School
1st – Kimberley Boys’ High School

Western Cape
Best Speaker – Nancy Bagula (De Kuilen High School)
3rd – Pinelands High School
2nd – The Settlers’ High School
1st – De Kuilen High School