The highlight of Public Speaking during the Michaelmas term was the Sixth St John's College Youth Speaking Festival, which took place on 23 September.
Ten schools – independent, state, township and inner-city - were invited to participate, making the festival a wonderful collaboration of students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.
The festival paid homage to the Youth of South Africa and our Heritage. The Juniors spoke on the topic, Lighten up, South Africa, while the Seniors spoke on their personal adaptations of Nando’s South Africa, Stage Sies campaign.
In recognition of our 125th birthday celebrations, we invited Old Johannians to adjudicate both competition categories this year. The judges in the Junior category included Herman Lubega (Head of Hodgson 2016), Raymond Barrow (Head of School 2018) and Catherine Elliott (Runge 2014). Sango Mzuvukile Socikwa (Second Prefect 2016) and Tina Playne (Runge 1986) adjudicated the Senior category.
It was a wonderful day that was challenging, thought-provoking and inspiring, and the adjudicators were impressed by the courage and talents of the speakers.
Junior Winners
First: Ameer Loonat – King Edward VII School
Second: Almay Erasmus – Helpmekaar Kollege
Third: Lebogang Lekoana – Norkem Park High School
Senior Winners
First: Lwangolothando Tom – King Edward VII School
Second: Onkopole Nyeleti Makhubele – Norkem Park High School
Third: Roedean School – Neo Leseilane
Norkem Park won the Exclusive Books voucher for their library for the Most Supportive Supporters – a competition that is hotly contested by their school and Centurion College from Joubert Park each year.
The College was represented by Luca van Tonder (UIV Clarke) in the Junior category, and Matthew Venter-Clelland (Custos 2024) in the Senior category, and it was a treat to have speakers from the St John's College Academy participate this year, too.
Kheyan Vallabh (UIV Clarke) performed a sterling job as the MC in the Junior category, as did Luca van Tonder (UIV Clarke) and Zac Erasmus (LV Alston) in the Senior category.
A special part of the day is always the lunch break between the two categories of the festival, where adjudicators, staff and students from the participating schools get to interact with each other. The theme for lunch was a South African feast in Pelican Quad with bobotie, pap, wors and chakalaka on the menu, finished with delicious melktert and koeksisters. Kabir Budlener (UIV Alston) and Rupert Pretorius (UIV Nash) provided the entertainment with vibrant South African music.
We are grateful to Exclusive Books, who have supported the festival since its inception, for providing the prizes and gifts for the winners and adjudicators.
The 2023 St John's College Youth Speaking Festival celebrated everything good about South Africa and Heritage Day. Siyakhuluma, until next year!
