By Lufuno Masindi, Zanele Hlungwani and Thandile Masinyana
Victoria Girls High School learners made history recently representing their school in the National Moot Court Competition in Pretoria.
Hosted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in collaboration with the University of Pretoria and the Foundation of Human Rights, the competition seeks to uplift schoolchildren nationwide.
The initiative was set out to enlighten schoolchildren about the South African Constitution by exposing them to the operations of South Africa’s courts.
Two leaners from Victoria Girls High School who were fortunate to be part of the competition, returned and shared their experiences. Lusanele Kesa, a grade 10 learner, and Mairi van Schoor, in grade 11, expressed that their dream of becoming lawyers inspired their interest in the competition.
“This competition taught me to analyse what’s in the Constitution and how human rights work in different scenarios. It’s very useful to know,” said Van Schoor.
Similarly, Kesa said she knew very little about rights and responsibilities, “but after this, I’ve really read it and applied it, so it’s helped my understanding greatly”.
Both learners acknowledged the struggles they faced during the competition. Kesa revealed that it was challenging for her because they trained until early morning, which was new to them.
Van Schoor said, “The biggest challenge was sleep, but it paid off.” She noted that sleep deprivation was the biggest hurdle. But despite exhaustion, she acknowledged that their sacrifice was worth it, as it instilled in them a strong sense of discipline and perseverance. Overcoming the challenges was about physical endurance and maintaining a positive mindset. Both learners had to focus on the bigger picture, reminding themselves of their goals and the rewards ahead.
The highlight for Kesa was discovering the extent of individual rights and how they are used in daily circumstances, while Van Schoor emphasised the significance of understanding that just because something is not listed in the Constitution, does not mean it is not protected.
Victoria Girls teacher, Sandy Vlandir, praised the competition for broadening learners’ understanding of human rights and the Constitution. “It fosters learners to imagine themselves in situations and defend their stance,” Vlandir said. She emphasised the plans being implemented to create a support system for the participants in future to explore law and human rights beyond the competition.
The competition has a great potential to push for social change and advocacy by unifying diverse backgrounds who wish to engage with the law. Vlandir said, “It shows that everyone is equal in front of the Constitution and the law.”
