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The FW de Klerk Foundation proudly attended the Gauteng Provincial Schools' Debating Championship Finals and Oratory Programme Award Ceremony on 15 October, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing youth leadership and fostering critical engagement with constitutional values.

Danella Cassel, an FW de Klerk Foundation youth representative, emphasised the significance of debate in shaping South Africa’s future leaders. “Learning how to debate empowers young people to be able to not only voice their opinions, but to critically evaluate and advocate for solutions rooted in constitutional principles. This platform cultivates the next generation of civic-minded leaders,” Cassel stated.

The event, hosted by the Gauteng Schools' Debating Board and Atheneum, underscores the importance of promoting skills such as critical thinking, communication and leadership — skills that are essential for upholding the rule of law and advancing South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

Ezra Mendel, a Constitutional Advancement Programme intern at the FW de Klerk Foundation, further highlighted the constitutional importance of these initiatives. “Debate is not just a tool for intellectual growth, it is an exercise in democracy. By engaging with opposing views and learning to navigate complex arguments, young South Africans are honing the very skills that will enable them to protect and uphold the Constitution,” Mendel said.

This event feeds into the larger National Youth Debate Initiative, spearheaded by the FW de Klerk Foundation in partnership with the Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation. Through this initiative, the Foundation aims to elevate youth voices in national discourse, ensuring that they remain engaged with the values of equality, dignity and freedom enshrined in the Constitution.

The FW de Klerk Foundation remains committed to fostering youth leadership and ensuring that the next generation of South Africans are equipped to contribute meaningfully to the country’s constitutional future.

Issued by the FW de Klerk Foundation