KZN students reign supreme at Unisa Law Clinic competition

The annual Unisa Law Clinic Student Debate and Indaba is a prestigious competition, designed to hone the oratory, research and argumentation skills of Unisa LLB students across South Africa. This year's event saw fierce competition with students from all the regions vying for the top spot. The team from the Durban Regional Hub, KwaZulu-Natal, prevailed, defeating the team from the Johannesburg Regional Service Centre, Gauteng, in a thrilling final round.

From left: Sibongakonke Wanda, Vimbanaishe Gobo and Sibulelo Mafeke

The journey to victory began with a rigorous selection process, with over 40 students initially competing for the chance to represent Durban. The top three students chosen for the team received intensive training, led by Professor Maputi Tuba, a Banking and Finance Law specialist. The training focused on the complex and timely debate topic: "Should access to financial services be introduced as a new human right in terms of the Constitution?". This topic required a deep understanding of constitutional law and human rights principles.

The Durban team, comprising Sibongakonke Wanda, Vimbainashe Gobo, and Sibulelo Goodwill Mafeke, started their campaign in round 1 when they competed online against the debating teams from the Nelspruit and Polokwane regional hubs. The final round was a high-stakes affair, with the debating team from Durban arguing against the proposed constitutional amendment and the Johannesburg team arguing in favour. The tension was palpable, as both teams presented their cases skilfully and passionately. After careful deliberation, the judges declared the debaters from Durban the champions.

The competition also recognised individual excellence, with Gobo receiving the award for Best Runner-Up Speaker. All the participants received certificates of participation, signed by the Head of Unisa Law and the project leader, Nomonde Gxilishe.

The Durban team's victory demonstrates the power of teamwork, thorough preparation and well-articulated arguments in the legal profession and would potentially inspire future Unisa College of Law students to put their skills to the test. These champions exemplify what can be achieved through dedication and skill, both in the legal arena and beyond. Their success highlights the importance of platforms like the Unisa Law Clinic Student Debate and Indaba in shaping the next generation of legal leaders.

* By Jo Cossavella, Communications Officer, KwaZulu-Natal Region, with input from ChatGPT