Nomzamo debaters in second spot

SIPHELELE NDZAMELA

NOMZAMO Secondary School's debate team have proved mighty as they scooped a trophy, taking second place in the district schools' debate competition in Port Elizabeth last week.

The competition was held in Walmer Civic Centre and the discussion topic for that day was "The use of social media”.

Nomzamo competed against Ntsika High School (Grahamstown), Humansdorp Senior Secondary High (Humansdorp), Thembelihle Comprehensive High School (Port Elizabeth), and Ndzondelelo High School (Port Elizabeth).

OOZING WITH PRIDE: Nomzamo High School's debate team represented Ndlambe in the district road safety school debate competition last week and scooped a trophy as they battled against tough rivals in Port Elizabeth. From left are Xola Njoba, Noluvo Mbabela, organiser Boyce Mjingwana from Ndlambe traffic department, Sinethemba Plaatjie and Monde Kosolo Picture: SIPHELELE NDZAMELA

Nomzamo teacher Lwazikazi Stamper was the organiser of the debate sessions.

Debater Noluvo Mbabela was awarded with two trophies, one for being the best speaker of the day and best second speaker in the final between Ndzondelelo and Nomzamo.

"Being in the debate team helps us gain more knowledge about things and also helps us to be aware of things we were not aware of before,” said Mbabela.

"It is motivating to be getting prizes in the competition and it also helps with our credentials when we apply for university,” she added.

To qualify for the district competition, Nomzamo Secondary won first place against their home rivals in Ndlambe.

There were also schools from Uitenhage, Kirkwood, Sundays River and Blue Crane that competed in the competition.

The Nomzamo debate team does their own research on topics and also writes the arguments themselves with assistance from Mbasa Stamper, who is in matric at Port Alfred High School.

Traffic officer Boyce Mjingwana, a former Nomzamo pupil, was appointed by the municipality to coordinate the debate in Ndlambe.

He accompanied the Nomzamo debate team to Port Elizabeth and told TotT it was a nerve-wracking final as he could not remain seated when Nomzamo took on Ndzondelelo High School.

"We appreciate the support we got from Stenden for providing our debaters with transport to Port Elizabeth and back,” said Mjingwana.

Nomzamo lost to their rivals in the finals by a fine margin which left them settling for second place.

Director of community and protection services, Nombulelo Willy-Booysen, congratulated the learners for putting Ndlambe municipality on the map.