Best female national TVET debater awarded

Nyakallo Mokoena, a student of South West Gauteng TVET College, scooped the best female debater award at the second annual TVET College students’ national debating competition recently held in East London.

The debating competition is one of the highlights of August TVET Month. The first national debating competition for TVET College students was hosted in Durban last year.

Each college was requested to be represented by two students and a mentor. South West Gauteng TVET College was represented by Nyakallo Mokoena of Molapo Campus, Bridgette Vilakazi of Dobsonville Campus and their mentor, this writer.

The Colleges in attendance, were grouped according to regions and provinces. South West Gauteng TVET College was grouped with Gauteng Province TVET Colleges, Central Johannesburg, Western, and Tshwane South. This grouping competed against Eastern Cape Province TVET Colleges Ikhala, Ingwe, Lovedale and Buffalo City. The motion under debate was “Academic support programmes should be compulsory to all bursary recipients”. Team Gauteng was in opposition to the motion.

When Nyakallo Mokoena took to the podium as the second opposing speaker, she soon had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand. The energy she radiated in the hall, her stage presence and the level of confidence, set her apart. It made her a unanimous winner deserving of the Best Female Award.

When the judges announced their results, it was a mere formality. Nyakallo could not hold back her tears of joy as she was called to receive the award. “This is indeed a dream come true for me. The level of debating and standard was so high that you needed to be the best to beat the rest. I love debating and public speaking.

It is therefore with passion that I give my all when called upon. However, I cannot take all the credit for my victory. It was a collective group effort. The award goes to Team Gauteng for their tireless hard work and selfless efforts. I also want to thank my College team-mate, Bridgette Vilakazi.

Thanks for all her endurance in the preparation for the event. I must also thank all the college faculty for unleashing our talents and making our dreams come true. My plan is to start a debate and public speaking academy soon to create a platform for all aspiring debate students”, said the elated award winner.

Other categories, namely, Best Male Student and Best Team awards went to College of Cape Town for TVET and Team North West, respectively.

By Mashilo Mojela- English Lecturer

Source TVET College Times