Johannesburg - A group of South African learners received praise from the Department of Basic Education on Tuesday after winning the 2016 International Schools Moot Court competition at The Hague.
The winning South African team comprised of learners Nthabiseng Mbatha, Simon Motsheweni, Paseka Selinyane, Claire Rankin, Clara-Marie Macheke,
Katelyn Chettle and Shandre Smith, representing schools ranging from rural schools to former model C.
They had won the local competition which had been supervised by judges at the Constitutional Court in South Africa.
Concourt judges Howard Morrison and Raul Pangalangan were present during then finals at the International Criminal Court.
National Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education Elijah Mhlanga said: “The learners come from Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. The competition is important to us because it gives us an indication that the skills that our learners are acquiring in our education system are such that they can compete anywhere in the world and win.
“It serves as a motivation for other children to reach for the stars and that their circumstances should not determine their fate. It is encouraging to see our learners succeeding at an international level and emerging as champions ahead of their peers who come from developed countries.”
The team was given a challenge to discuss crimes against humanity during times of war. Contestants argued as defence and complainant, while referencing international criminal law and treaties.
The students competed against rivals from Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, Mongolia, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, St Martens, the United States of America and Venezuela.
The Ministry of Basic Education added: “The Ministry is very proud of the learners. It just shows the level of understanding for civic education and that the learners are aware of their rights.”
The department gave special mention to Claire Rankin and Clara-Marie Macheke from the Springfield Convent in the Western Cape for securing first place at the competition in the Hague, seeing off the challenge of the US.
African News Agency
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