Category: News

Team SA are European Schools Debating Champions 2013

 

Team South Africa has returned victorious from the European Schools Debating Championships 2013 in Turkey this August. The South African Schools Debating Board cannot be more proud of Team South Africa!

Team South Africa won all 8/8 preliminary rounds collecting 24/24 judges and breaking 1st, 100 speaker points above the rest of the tournament. Team South Africa went on to win the Quarter Finals unanimously (3-0); the Semi-Final unanimously (5-0) and then proceeded to win the Finals unanimously! (7-0). To top it all off the entire team ranked as the 4 best speakers at the tournament:

  1. Josh Broomburg
  2. Nicole Dunn
  3. Rachel Gardiner
  4. Daniel Peter

Congratulations! South Africa is tremendously proud of you and your performance. Congratulations further to their coach Luke Churchyard and their adjudicator Alisje Churchyard for all the hard work they have put in. Alisje broke as a judge to the quarter finals, and could not proceed due to clashes with Team SA. Well done!

Viva, Team SA, Viva!

The motions debated were:

  • ROUND 1 (prepared): This House would give power to a government of experts rather than elected politicians in a time of crisis.
  • ROUND 2: THW allow companies to refuse to hire smokers.
  • ROUND 3 (prepared): This House believes that the IOC should no longer allow countries with a bad Human Rights track record to host the Olympics.
  • ROUND 4: THW teach contemporary literature at the expense of literary classics.
  • ROUND 5 (prepared): This House supports lower taxes to extensive public services.
  • ROUND 6: THW hold parents legally responsible for the criminal actions of their children.
  • ROUND 7 (prepared): This House would allow those charged with disclosing classified information to mount a defence of “whistleblowing in the public interest”.
  • ROUND 8: THBT prostitution is a legitimate way to make a living.
  • QUARTER-FINAL: THW ban unpaid internships.
  • SEMI-FINAL: THBT freedom of speech is more important than religious sensitivities.
  • FINAL: TH supports the targeted assassination of terrorist leaders.

Team SA was recently featured in the Sunday Times:

Team SA Sunday Times

The tab for the tournament can be accessed here.

Election of National Chief Adjudicator

We are pleased to announce that Paidamwoyo Mangondo has been reelected as the SASDB National Chief Adjudicator for 2013/2014! We wish him all the best and are confident that he will continue to do outstanding work for the South African debating community.

The application process for DCAs for NSDC 2013 will be opened soon.

1st Asia World Schools Debating Championships

OVER 200 students from nine territories came to Thailand to participate in an international debate tournament. Held under the theme of “It’s Our Turn”, the first Asia World Schools Debating Championship ran from August 1-7 at the Anglo-Singapore International School in Bangkok.

The South African Schools’ Debating Board sent two teams:

South Africa ‘A’ Team 1 (SAA1) consisted of Sam Musker; Emma Buckland; Ilan Malkin and Desmond Fairall. South Africa ‘A’ Team 2 (SAA2) consisted of Kate Dewey; Bettina Buabeng-Baidoo; Laurian Polkinghorne and Amelia Warren. Coaches: Phiwe Salukazana and Christopher Hojem. Adjudicator: Jolandi Swanepoel

Seven preliminary rounds were held for both prepared and impromptu motions. The teams competed in the knock-out debates, which saw Singapore and South Africa duelling in the grand finals on the motion: “This house supports an independent state for the Rohingya”.

Members from both teams presented constructive arguments opposing and proposing the creation of a Rohingya autonomous state, touching on the subjects of persecution, the right to self-determination, sectarian conflict and economic repercussions.  The HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Cup went to Anglo-Chinese Junior College of Singapore.

 Results:

SAA1 broke 10th and made it to the Grand Final and SAA2 broke 5th and made it to the Octo-Final.

All our speakers ranked in the top 30:

  • Ilan Malkin – 3rd
  • Emma Buckland – 5th
  • Bettina Buabeng-Baidoo – 9th
  • Kate Dewey – 11th  
  • Sam Musker – 12th
  • Amelia Warren – 17th
  • Desmond Fairall – 28th
  • Laurian Polkinghorne – 30th

Julie Sutanto, director of schools at Anglo-Singapore International School, said debating was a major tool for communication and discussion in both the local and international arenas. “We want youths to learn the importance of effective communication in various situations and to demonstrate that differences can be resolved through tolerance and understanding. Through debate, students learn to discuss global issues and create a public dialogue in an organised way,” she said.

The next Asia World Schools Debating Championship will be held in Bangkok at the same time next year.

Support: Standard Bank Graduates’ Debating Gala and Charity Auction

On Tuesday 6 August, the Standard Bank Graduates will be hosting a Debating Gala and Charity Auction Evening at the Standard Bank Art Gallery on the Corner of Simmonds and Anderson Street in Johannesburg. The aim of this event is to provide much needed financial relief to an over-burdened NPO called the South African Schools Debating Board in order for them to host the SA National Schools Debating Championship in December.

Time – 18:00
Dress – Business Formal
Who – Please purchase a ticket for anyone. All welcome.
Price – R150 per person

Your time and your money will not be wasted! You will have the opportunity to watch a live debate between such fantastic leaders as Lincoln Mali (Head of Rest of Africa for Standard Bank), Peter Vickery (Head of Sales for Rest of Africa and a Harvard Graduate), Audrey Mothupi (Head of Inclusive Banking for SB), Jeff Buckland (Partner at Webber Wentzel) and some interesting other speakers are on the cards. The judges for this debate are Cas Coovadia (Head of the Banking Association of South Africa), Corli Le Roux (Head of the SRI Index for the JSE) and Wendy Ngoma (Dean of Wits Business School). This will all be punctuated by canapés and welcoming drinks with a cash bar available thereafter. Please also note that external people will be able to arrange parking in the bank’s secure parking as long as I have your name in advance.

To buy a ticket please email info@sansdc2013.com we will take it from there. If you order a ticket please do come as this will impact our costs and capacity on the evening.  Looking forward to having you there!

Announcement: Academy Team 2013

This year has seen a number of highly talented; motivated and skilled group of debaters making the team selection a difficult; hotly contested and rigorous process. Nevertheless, the SA Academy Team for 2013 is:

Nonhlanhla Masanabo
Jordach Sheriden Govender
Bettina Buabeng-Baidoo
Delano Ramdas

Congratulations to all participants and to those that made the team.

Support Team SA members in Global Online Debates

Two members of the South African Schools Debating Team, Josh Broomberg and Daniel Peter (with support from their team mates) are participating in an exciting on-line debating tournament called the Global On-line Debating tournament. They have completed two rounds, with the third round under way.

The tournament consists of five preliminary rounds with a break to Octo-finals. It pits them against some top quality debaters from around the world. Please follow their progress through the tournament and importantly vote for who you think has won each debate (hopefully that will be Josh and Dan).

All the action takes place here: http://www.ipidato.com/tournament/god/debates/

Motion for round three is: THIS HOUSE BELIEVES THAT ARTIST FOUND GUILTY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR ANY INDUSTRY AWARDS