Ramasela Mashatola (Grade 11) and Lurhan Maraba (Grade 10).
Debating is a serious activity at Randfontein High School (RHS).
This after RHS earned themselves a place in the Provincial competition recently having excelled in the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) Debate competition in June.
There are four debating teams and pupils who participate in this activity must ensure that they stay abreast with both local and international affairs. All debaters are top achievers in terms of their academic performance. They also have the natural skill of argumentation, logic and superb oral communication skills.
During June a team participated in the SAASTA Debate competition. Pupils must do Mathematics and Physical Sciences and show and interest in scientific research and innovation.
In order to qualify for Provincials, teams had to write an essay on “Hydrogen Fuels as an fuel source in South Africa”. The top five essays automatically earned their schools a place in the Provincial competition. Schools like Crawford College, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Springs Boys High, Mondeor High and RHS then battled in debate against each other on Biotechnology as a solution to the energy crisis in South Africa.
The team from RHS interviewed Biotechnologists from the Department of Science and Technology and investigated the feasibility of biotechnology in our country with its vast sugar cane industry.
“Our argument was based on studies in Brazil and India,” Kwasi Biyela said.
“We discovered that all the biomass from sugar cane, maize, soya beans and algae could be used to secure energy in the future.”
“Food security is our priority, but with the dismal reputation of Eskom, alternatives must be researched and the minds of teenagers can bring this reality to the decision makers in our country,” Lurhan Maraba added.
The SAASTA team won the Provincial competition and Maraba won a Sumsung tablet for being the best speaker of the day.
The Nationals take place in September and the team is determined to pull out all the stops to be victorious as the winning school goes to New York for two weeks.
