OWN CORRESPONDENT
Joshua Jankelow, a Grade 11 student at Crawford College Sandton, reached the pinnacle of the discipline this year by being selected for the 2018 South African National Debating Team, which competed at the World Debating Championship in Croatia in July.
Following five months of training, and a nailbitingly close competition, the five-person team was ranked 12th globally, and Joshua was ranked 21st in the world out of 600 senior speakers. He was also the highest ranked South African team member. On 27 July, he was ranked first in the South African Council for English Education (SACEE) schools debating league.
Having started debating only in 2016, it was evident from the outset that Jankelow’s general knowledge and excellent oratory skills were going to result in a debater who could compete against the best in the league, according to his teachers. In recognition of achieving a place on the South African team and representing his country, Joshua was awarded the college’s first Cum Laude Honours blazer.
Debating head and school teacher, Shakti Maharaj, congratulated Jankelow on his achievement, quoting American statesman Colin Powell, who said, “A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”
