The O’Dowd Senior Prepared Speaking Competition took place on Monday 24 January, with 25 speakers speaking on a range of topics which interested them. We were delighted by the number of speakers who participated and by the quality of the speeches presented.
Alex de la Rey was placed first, with a brilliant, insightful, and hilarious speech entitled ‘Hear, hear, hair’.
Ruben van Zyl finished in second place, speaking on ‘Societal Pottery’. Tristan Rhodes, Joshua Bruwer, Yandisa Xaba, and Aphiwe Nqumba were highly commended.
Keamo Motlhamme was a charming and professional Master of Ceremonies, and Mr Allan Magubane and Mr Michael Stead gave helpful and encouraging adjudications.
The Junior Prepared Speaking Competition took place on Tuesday 25 January, and it was wonderful to see the juniors speak so confidently. Sihle Simelane was an excellent role model while performing his MC duties, and we enjoyed having Mr Raymond Barrow and Ms Ndivhu Mphephu as our adjudicators.
Dhilhaan Gopaul, in Remove, was placed first, speaking on the topic, ‘Precious lives lost between the cold numbers’; while Fayzan Adroos, LIV, who was placed second, spoke on, ‘Determination – the art of knowing when to stop’. - Heather Venables, MIC Public Speaking
