Eduan van der Westhuizen of Louis Trichardt High School came out tops in the province at the Young Communicators Award 2006.

Eduan will represent Limpopo at the National Finals on June 10 in Johannesburg where he will compete against the winners of the other eight provinces.

The Young Communicators Award is an annual competition sponsored by Anglo American, Anglo Platinum and the Sowetan. The competition is open to Grade 11 and 12 learners who do not speak English as a first language and the contestants are required to deliver a prepared speech on a topic of their own choice as well as a short, impromptu speech. Around 12 contestants compete in each provincial contest. The provincial contest was held on May 13 at the SABC building in Polokwane.

Eduan’s prepared speech was a motivation for the audience to become fit. The first prize consists of R1 000 for the Limpopo winner and R700 for the school. The first runner-up and reserve was Dimakatso Maja of SJ van der Merwe Technical High and the second runner-up was Success Makomene of Nylstroom High School.

The contestants were addressed by Messrs Timothy Tsaagane, provincial SED Manager: Limpopo, Anglo Platinum Ltd, Victor Mecoamere, Special Projects Editor, Sowetan and Njabulo ka-Sishaba, convenor of the panel of judges.

The annual Anglo American-Sowetan Young Communicators Award is a very successful project in the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Portfolio and was conceived in 1994. The core objectives have been developed around the two pillars of the improvement of oral English language communication and leadership and personal growth.