At the provincial contest of the Young Communicators Awards, a contestant from Mutale kept the audience glued to their seats when she spoke her mind on the effects of the Zuma trial on the youth.

The Young Communicators Awards is an annual competition sponsored by Anglo American, Anglo Platinum and Sowetan. The Limpopo provincial contest was held on May 13 at the SABC building in Polokwane. 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. The core objectives have been developed around the two pillars of the improvement of oral English language communication and leadership and personal growth. This is a very successful project and part of the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Portfolio that was conceived in 1994.

Faith Madima (18) of Thengwe Secondary School in Mutale received a participation certificate and a prize for her speeches. It was in the prepared speech that Faith discussed the implications of the recent court case in which former Deputy-President Jacob Zuma was on trial for rape.

On May 9, at 14:10, the nation heard the verdict: not guilty. “Everybody rejoiced and ululated when judgment was passed, but in our hearts we still questioned or had problems with four things concerning Msholozi,” said Faith.

She first mentioned morals. “In my culture, it is considered a taboo for a parent to have sex with his daughter and I grew up believing that, but Msholozi’s case tampered with my belief, for he had sex with a woman young enough to be his daughter. She was a family friend and that makes her his daughter to me,” she said. Faith said it was wrong because there was no marriage, only “hit and run”.

The second implication mentioned was contradictions. “I find the former deputy-president to be very contradictory. He was very involved in the fight against HIV/Aids and yet, knowing the consequences, he goes on to have unprotected sex. He said that he took a hot shower afterwards to lessen the risk of HIV/Aids,” she said.

When discussing her third point, disclosure of HIV status, Faith again mentioned that a lot of young people got the wrong example that a person can have unprotected sex and not contract the disease by just taking a shower.

The last problem was a political one. She said that the case left the nation with the problem of succession in the presidency.

This young orator had some recommendations for the nation as well as for the former deputy-president. “Let us put ubaba’s sex life at rest and if he is elected president, let us show him the respect he deserves for he is ‘not guilty’. I say, you have won round one, ubaba, it is now time for round two, but I want you to be introspective on what you have learnt through the case, for we all learnt that warm water can be useful.”