A group of six pupils from KwaZulu-Natal took home the first prize of the Youth4SaferSA Debate & Leadership Programme Finale 2025 at the weekend.
Limpopo took the second prize and Mpumalanga came third.
The competition marked the culmination of a five-week training programme in which pupils were taught public speaking, vocal techniques and teamwork to prepare them for the national competition.
Organised by the Safer South Africa Foundation, the debate is aimed at empowering young people to use their voices in crime prevention and leadership.
Foundation chairperson Dr Zizamele Makhaza said the initiative was about creating a platform for youth voices that could influence society.
“It’s a space where values are affirmed and leadership is born. Through this initiative we are not just preventing crime, we are rewriting the narrative of youth potential at the same time,” said Makhaza.
“Debate has gone down from all respects, irrespective of what is being debated. Inasmuch as debates are going down, we get more political parties that are mushrooming. Are they going to contribute to the debate? No. Therefore, it is a gap that the foundation has identified that needs to be filled.”
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Samkelo Mdlalose,16, from Mzuvele Secondary School in KwaMashu, who made up the winning team, said the debate had taught him that leadership is not about being loud but about thinking critically and standing for what is right.
“At first, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to speak in front of so many people; the fear of forgetting my words was real. But standing on that stage showed me that when you prepare and believe in yourself, you can overcome those fears. I feel proud that our team could represent KwaZulu-Natal and show that young people can lead conversations about safety and change in our country,” he said.
Akhile Mangena, 16, from Nqabakazulu Secondary School, also in KZN, said the training received over the past five weeks had changed the way she saw herself.
“I was scared that I wouldn’t match up to other provinces because everyone was so good and that fear of not being good enough stayed with me until the finals. I’ve learnt how to work with a team, how to express myself with confidence and how to use my voice to influence positive change. Winning today proves that young voices matter and that even when we’re scared, we can still make an impact,” she said.
Co-founder of the initiative, president of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, Thulani Ngwenya, said
the debates were not about trophies but transformation. “You are not just leaders of tomorrow, you are guardians of today. We salute you for participating in this. Winning is not everything but the content that will be delivered today is the most important thing.”
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