Hoërskool Vanderbijlpark and Kimberley Technical High School brought home top places at the 2024 National Schools Moot Court Programme.

Kimberley Technical High School took home the first runner-up position while Hoërskool Vanderbijlpark took first place.

Hoërskool Vanderbijlpark also took home the award for Best Oralist given to Ofentse Masango.

Technical High School learner Outlwile Mohlakoana told OFM News that this year’s topic which was chosen for them by the Department of Justice was about a young girl from a school in the KwaZulu Natal Province who experiences unequal educational access to newer equipment after visiting a different school for a science fair.

“Both me and my partner Lethabo Moreeng had the best-written essays, she had the best-responded essay and I had the best applicant essay and this led to us preparing for the oral rounds,” said Technical High School Learner, Outlwile Mohlakoana

After each oral round learners would be eliminated to determine who the best out of everyone was to go on to compete in the Provincial Oral Competitions.

Mohlakoana also mentioned that she had received bad news a while before the finals and was unsure about going however with the support she received from the principal, Mr. Ludick she was able to push through and secure their position at the finals.

“He was never strict with us, he always understood if we couldn’t do something and he always did his best, he did things for us that I don’t think other teachers would do.”

This has been the first time in 13 years the Northern Cape has made it so far in this competition.

Outlwile Mohlakoana and Lethabo Moreeng at the final competition. Picture: Facebook

"I am really proud of OT and Lethabo the hours they put in to prepare for the competition and their grace in becoming runners up on the national stage. They were admired by all for their fighting spirit and defending the respondents so well," said Principal of Technical High School, Micheal Ludick

Although the school will not move onto the international moot competition, they are grateful for the chance to have reached this far in the competition, 

"This is once again proof that Kimberley Technical High School prepares learners for the real world."

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony mvh