Providing top-quality education to boys from Form 2 to Form 6, we draw on our long and proud tradition, as well as our dynamic and forward-thinking ethos.
Providing top-quality education to boys from Form 2 to Form 6, we draw on our long and proud tradition, as well as our dynamic and forward-thinking ethos.
Providing top-quality education to boys from Form 2 to Form 6, we draw on our long and proud tradition, as well as our dynamic and forward-thinking ethos.
Providing top-quality education to boys from Form 2 to Form 6, we draw on our long and proud tradition, as well as our dynamic and forward-thinking ethos.
On Thursday, 14 August 2025, Maritzburg College made history by clinching victory at the Pietermaritzburg Debating League Final, held at Hilton College. The tournament brought together two of KwaZulu-Natal’s debating giants — Maritzburg College and Michaelhouse — in a clash that had the audience hooked from start to finish.
Represented by teammates Jiran Moneyvalu, Amonge Mhlanzi, and Kaelim Moodley, with Mrs. Avershree Maistry as coach, Maritzburg College entered the competition as the proposition side. Michaelhouse, serving as the opposition, stood firmly against them in a heated contest over an unseen motion — released to both schools only on the day of the final.
The motion itself was as unusual as it was intellectually demanding whether society should allow zombies to remain alive due to their humanity and human rights, or whether they should be destroyed for public safety. Maritzburg College’s team was tasked with defending the rights of zombies — a position that required creativity, legal reasoning, and sharp argumentative strategy.
Over several rounds of spirited speeches, rebuttals, and counterarguments, the Maritzburg College trio stood their ground. Their preparation, composure, and quick thinking ultimately impressed the panel of seven judges, who delivered a unanimous verdict in their favour. The victory meant that Maritzburg College walked away with the Debating League Champions Trophy, a symbol of both hard work and teamwork.
After the final, the team sat down for an interview to share their reflections.
When asked what it felt like to compete at such a high level, Amonge Mhlanzi said:
“For us, we felt like there wasn’t a lot of pressure. We had done a lot of preparation before for the case. And we knew what we were doing. So there wasn’t much to worry about.”
Explaining the unique motion and how the team handled it, Jiran Moneyvalu shared:
“The motion was about whether we should keep zombies alive because zombies are human, alive and have human rights or we should kill them because they’re practically brain dead and want to kill others. Our side was to strive for zombies to stay alive. So in our case we had to approach the opposers carefully in terms of how we presented our information. It needed a lot of law, logical thinking skills as well as argumentative structure and response.”
Turning to advice for younger students who might be interested in debating, Kaelim Moodley gave a thoughtful response:
“Just speak. I feel like when you exist in a world where you as an individual have to be different or gifted in order to be recognized by society is wrong. In debating, it isn’t always just about winning. It’s about making progress and growing your character as a person. So to those who are thinking about joining debating but are hesitant, my recommendation to you is to give it a try. What really do you have to lose?”
Finally, reflecting on whether the team would have done anything differently, Mhlanzi concluded:
“Looking back, I don’t think we would have changed anything. We prepared to the best of our ability, and we knew what we were doing. That in itself gave us the power to call our opposers on their arguments, rebuttal and false information they had against us and for their case. I think generally this was the best debate we had all season.”
For Maritzburg College, the victory was about more than just a trophy. It highlighted the dedication of its students, the guidance of their coach, and the spirit of teamwork that carried them to success.
As the final debate of the season, the unanimous decision was the perfect send-off for the team — proof that preparation, confidence, and clear thinking can win even the most unconventional arguments. With their triumph, Maritzburg College not only brought pride to their school but also set a high bar for future debaters across Pietermaritzburg.