Limpopo learners take top honours in national debates competition

Five learners from Northern Academy in Polokwane, Limpopo did their province proud when they demonstrated their ability to deliberate on high-level scientific topics such as biotechnology and space-related technologies in convincing style.

Northern Academy’s winning team with their educator and the Managing Director of SAASTA, Dr Jabu Nukeri. From the left are Ngwanathaba Molepo (Northern Academy educator), Ntshepe Matlou, Khomotso Sebake, Lesetja Masoga, Lehlogonolo Letsoalo, Dr Jabu Nukeri and Eric Seabela

The Northern Academy team was the winner of this year’s SAASTA National Schools Debates finals, which took place in Pretoria on 3 August.

Team members Eric Seabela, Lehlogonolo Letsoalo, Lesetja Masoga, Khomotso Sebake, and Ntshepe Matlou, accompanied by their educator Ngwanathaba Molepo, bowled over the audience with their brilliant arguments and out-debated teams from the other eight provinces to win the grand prize, an all-expenses-paid trip to New York, including a visit to the Museum of Natural History to expose the learners to international science.

Thought-provoking topics

The topics in this year’s finals were “Can biotechnology’s application in wastewater treatment and water purification provide a sustainable contribution to addressing water cooperation?” and “Can the use of space-related technologies, such as Earth observation, provide an effective tool for water management, leading to a meaningful contribution to water cooperation?”

The formidable team of adjudicators included space scientist Dan Matsapola; Mkhulu Mathe, a materials scientist at the CSIR; Dr Mlawule Mashego, engineer and energy boffin; Lisa Brown, an economist at Wesgro; Motebele Moshodi, a civil engineer at the Department of Water Affairs; and Dr Ndeke Musee, a principal scientist at the CSIR.

By Daphney Molewa, Corporate Communicator, SAASTA