From After-School gathering to National champions: Curro Delft's debating journey

Curro Delft’s debating team is making waves in the arena and have proudly earned the badge of achieving first place at the Western Cape Interschool Debate and qualified to compete in the High School National Debating Championship held in Durban.

According to Curro Delft, the learners had begun their debating as an after school gathering session which grew into a passion.

"There is something profoundly moving about watching young people discover they have something worth saying, and realising they have every right to say it with confidence, she said.

“What began as a modest after-school gathering has grown into something remarkable. Curro Delft's debating society had no external mentors, no formal training programmes, and limited resources yet teachers and learners learned as they went, building something from nothing

“Today, those same learners stand on national stages, their voices ringing with authority and conviction.”

She said the team had achieved being part of the champions of the Climate Change School Debate Competition; first place at the Western Cape Interschool Debate; and qualification for the 2025 High School National Debating Championship at Danville Girls’ High School in Durban, where they will compete against the top school teams from across South Africa’s local leagues.

They also ranked second in their division, behind one of Cape Town’s most prestigious private schools. 

In the preliminary rounds of the National Debating League, Curro Delft produced the best speaker in every single round, from ninth place last year to second this year, their rise has been nothing short of outstanding, Faro indicated.

“They have gone up against the likes of Bishops Diocesan College, Herzlia High School, Edgemead High School and Milnerton High School, to name a few.”

One of the learners said the debating had boosted his confidence: “I've always been afraid of public speaking, worried about being judged.

“But debating has taught me it's not only about overcoming fear, it’s about rising to challenges and working under pressure.”

Faro added that it was born out of passion.

“Debating teaches what cannot be learned from textbooks: how to think critically under pressure, how to articulate complex ideas with clarity, how to listen genuinely before responding, how to disagree without demeaning. These are not merely academic skills," she said.

Ruan Beukes, Executive Head of Curro Delft High School, reflects on their journey: “Our learners’ journey shows what becomes possible when they are given space to discover their voice and the courage to use it. In just over a year, they have grown from a small after-school group to the national stage."

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus