Young Welkom LEARNER wins provincial debate competition

Mahlaku received R1 000 for winning the provincial contest and will now go compete at the national finals

A 17-year-old Welkom High School learner was crowned Free State’s best debater after she dazzled adjudicators and audiences at the Anglo American Young Communicator Ambassadors (YCA) provincial awards.

The elated Matshediso Mahlaku said she believes her hard work, perseverance and passion for language helped her scoop the award and said she was very proud of her achievement.

“I knew that I would be up against other very gifted speakers. However, with the intensive training and mentorship I received, I was confident that I would succeed and make our province proud. I am satisfied with how far I got in the YCA competition and I learnt a great deal from this experience.”

Now in its 19th year, the YCA, which is sponsored by Anglo American and presented in partnership with the department of basic education and the Sowetan newspaper, strive to empower grade 11 and 12 learners from all South African public high schools that speak English as a second or third language.

Since the first YCA in 1994, the debate cmpetition has grown extensively and has been a leading platform for personal, social and economic upliftment for the youth.

The competition continues to produce bright potential future leaders who are currently making vast differences in society and significantly shaping the future of this country.

The executive director of Anglo American in South Africa, Godfrey Gomwe, said the YCA is a prolific programme that plays a vital role in the country’s development, and has a considerable impact on the lives of the youth.

“The YCA provides an essential platform for the youth of South Africa, as they do not only acquire exceptional communication skills during their training, but they develop in many facets of their lives such as confidence, leadership, and professional and social skills.

“This provides hope for the future of our country as the talent inherent in these individuals can only lead to the development of a generation poised to lead South Africa into a new era of change and success.

It is for this reason that we are proud of our association with the YCA and will continue to support this initiative in order to help rewrite the future of this country through empowering the youth,” added Gomwe.

He added that communication skills are the cornerstone of success in the working world as they equip young people with the confidence to handle a variety of situations both professionally and personally.

Mahlaku will represent Free State at the upcoming 2013 YCA national finals later this month. Matshediso said participating in the YCA has not just provided her with invaluable experience, it has also helped her realise both her strengths and weakness.

She received R1 000 for winning the provincial contest, and stands a chance of winning R60 000 at the national finals towards her tertiary studies. R10 000 of the prize-money will go towards her school.