PRESS RELEASE
11 OCTOBER 2016
KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Learners win National Schools
Moot Court Competition
The team of learners from Harding High School in KwaZulu-Natal and MH Baloyi Secondary School in Gauteng won the 2016 National Schools Moot Court Competition. This was after a hard-hitting debate on intricate constitutional matters relating to protest action in schools. The teams in the final round had an opportunity to present their case in the Constitutional Court before a panel of judges, including Justice Richard Goldstone, Justice NonkosiMhantla and Justice Musi of the Constitutional Court.
The finals of the competition was the culmination of a set of elimination rounds where high school learners from across the country got to hone their skills in arguing intricate legal arguments that all relate to the South African Constitution.
This year disadvantaged schools (quantile 1 – 3) were paired with advantaged schools (quantile 4 - 5), according to the Department of Education ratings. In total 36 schools from eight provinces participated in the final rounds held in Pretoria.
The competition was organised by the University of Pretoria in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Justice, the Foundation of Human Rights and two corporate partners, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr and Webber Wentzel.
The South African National Schools Moot Court Competition has been held annually since 2011 and is aimed at creating greater consciousness and understanding in South African schools and communities about theConstitution of the Republic of South Africa and the values embodied by it.
This Competition provides a unique opportunity for learners to develop their research, writing and oral advocacy skills and enables young people to come to grips with some of the constitutional issues that are presently facing our country.
Earlier this year the SA national winners of the 2015 competition were victorious at the 2016 International Schools Moot Court competition held at The Hague in South Holland by showing the participants of 11 other countries how it’s done.
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