On Saturday, scores of young South Africans gathered at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg for wide-ranging debates on social impact issues as part of the 2024 edition of the Youth4SaferSA, organised by the Police Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) and its social and civil rights partner, the Safer South Africa Foundation (SSAF).
Following a day filled with energetic discussions on some challenges facing young people in particular and South Africans in general, SSAF announced Mpumalanga as the winner of this year’s Debate Championship, while the Western Cape and Eastern Cape took second and third places.
Thrilled with the victory, a beaming Retired Colonel (Rt Rev) Gicks Moyane, SSAF Mpumalanga Provincial Co-ordinator, said: “Congratulations to the Mpumalanga provincial team! You have shown incredible courage and determination.
“The critical thinking, research, and presentation skills you developed while preparing for the competition will undoubtedly serve you well academically and professionally, both now and in the future,” he added.
Thoriso Skosana, from Lowveld High School in West Arces, Mpumalanga, captained the six-member team, which included her schoolmates Siphumelele Mazibuko, Shantel Mbebe and Nkanyiso Mjaji.
The other three members were Junior Mungwambe and Virginia Mpandza from Cyril Clarke Secondary School in Mbombela. All team members are in Grade 11.
“This is truly amazing. We are glad that all the anxiety and sleepless nights were not in vain. When we got on stage to receive the award, we felt a mix of emotions – relief that this intense programme was finally over and excitement that we had won,” said Thoriso Skhosana.
Popcru president, Thulani Ngwenya called on South Africa to partner with the union and SSAF as top young minds from across the country need all the help they can get in their quest to finding solutions to making South Africa a safer country.
Born as Popcru’s civil rights arm, the SSAF is a non-government organisation (NGO) that spearheads social crime prevention initiatives, with a focus on education and empowering youth through its flagship Communities and Justice Programme (CJP) held at schools across the country.
Ngwenya emphasised the importance of the debate and broader SSAF school programmes, describing them as instrumental in the fight against crime.
“Any nation that is serious about fighting crime must have two wings – bringing perpetrators to justice through law enforcement, and preventing crime through community development.
“As Popcru evolved and grew, our attention became increasingly focused on strengthening law enforcement and dealing with organisational matters. So, the SSAF was founded to drive crime prevention through community initiatives,” he said.
In addition to gold medals and trophies, Team Mpumalanga received a cash prize of R9 000 from Metropolitan Life and electronic tablets from Workerslife.
The Western Cape team, that secured second place, received silver medals, a R6 000 cash prize, and KhoiTech watches, while the Eastern Cape team took third place, earning a R3 000 cash prize from Metropolitan Life, headsets donated by the Phiyega Family, and bronze medals.
Remarking on the level of talent and preparedness shown by young people, SSAF CEO, Riah Phiyeka, said: “I am so proud of all the learners who participated in this closely-contested competition. It shows that the youth can rise above their challenges and make their voices heard,” she said.
A total of 244 learners from 25 schools across eight provinces, all hailing from communities facing challenges like gangsterism, bullying, violence, and substance abuse, participated in this year’s championship.
The Star