By Karabo Matalajoe
The quiet anticipation inside Rhodes University Law halls broke into applause as learners took to their seats to argue cases in a courtroom.
The Sarah Baartman District hosted the first of its kind, a Moot Court Competition, serving as a landmark moment in the Education & Social Support Services Section- Learner Enrichment Programs-Heritage Unit.
This Moot Court Program initiative is designed to expose learners to legal thinking, research, debate, and enhance their communication skills. Through Districts, the Eastern Cape Department of Education collaborates with Legal Professionals, the Faculty of Law in Higher Institutions of Learning, the South African Human Rights Commission and the Justice Department. It offers workshops and training to teachers and learners. These sessions are conducted to introduce Moot Court and for capacitation on Court Skills, advocacy and research.
“It’s about giving learners who don’t want to be on the sports field another arena to shine,” said the Sarah Baartman District Coordinator, Lumka Languza, “here, they sweat through research, essay writing, and presentation, skills that will serve them for life.”
More than just a competition
Learners of seven different high schools, from the 3 circuit management centres (CMC) are Aeroville Secondary School, Hankey Senior Secondary School, Ukhanyo Secondary School, Nathenial Nyaluza Secondary School, Victoria Girls High School, Johnson Nqonqoza Secondary School and Ntsika Secondary School. They were tasked with researching, writing essays and presenting their arguments before panels in courtroom-simulated spaces.
This first educational experience presented the learners in an environment that mirrored the legal system and taught them how to express themselves and navigate through the law as future lawyers and advocates.
Through this initiative, four schools made it to the essay writing top 20, breaking two, Victoria Girls High and Natheniel Nyaluza Secondary, into the top 10, which will represent the District at the Provincial Oral Rounds Competition this coming weekend from the 22nd to the 24th of August 2025 at Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha.
Organising and planning of the event
Naturally, challenges remain and bringing such an event together is not easy. Despite the invitations to advocacy and writing workshops, school participation was lower than expected. There is still work to be done to ensure that the principals and teachers understand the importance of the programme and what it aims to achieve within the education system.
“We can’t blame the teachers; they’re stretched thin. Principals and their SMTs must work together with the District Co-ordinator and encourage learners to participate. The Moot Court Program can be integrated into the school’s curriculum and made part of the school’s law or debate club to generate interest and participation,” Languza explained.
One of the educators from Hankey Secondary School, Monique Mosi, said, “learners who are in the debating club at their school were eager to participate. We went through the writing process and researched the topic we were given, then further divided into different groups to argue and present our class in a more formalised structure fitting for moot court.”
Inside the courtrooms
The day itself had the buzz of a real court in session. Learners moved between seven parallel courtrooms where different cases were argued simultaneously before a panel of judges. Teachers and organisers walked briskly from one room to another to observe, guide, and encourage.
“I was very shy and anxious to present my case with my team, but the more I spoke, I was able to gain confidence and every time I do public speaking, I learn to improve my delivery and get a little bit better than how I started,” said Lelethu Notshulwana from Johnson Nqonqoza.
In the final round, the two schools that competed were Nathenial Nyaluza Secondary and Victoria Girls High, which was intense and heated in front of the whole judges’ panel. Although Victoria Girls delivered a powerful argument against Nyaluza, their points were not in agreement. Nyaluza won the final round.
‘’I didn’t think we would win, because the girls from Victoria Girls were very strong in their argument and we weren’t as confident, but I am glad we won,” said Indiphile Mjulwa from Nathenial Nyaluza.
Certificates and gifts were offered to all students and educators in attendance at the end of the day, and all students ended their day in good spirits.
Partnerships for growth
The Rhodes University Law Faculty has committed to supporting the program through training and advocacy, aligning with its community engagement mission. Other significant partnerships, such as the South African Human Rights Commission, offer expertise and support towards the program. The Moot Court initiative could become one of the Eastern Cape’s most important contributions towards national education.
The Department intends to conduct road-shows on all Learner Enrichment Programs, especially Heritage Programs, to promote them, share implementation strategies and encourage schools and learners to participate. We want to make these programs accessible, to offer resources and as much support for learners from diverse backgrounds”
