A Leap of Faith That Made History: Witbank Combined Christian School Shines at Road Safety Debate

Saturday, 24 May 2025, will forever be remembered as a day of pride, courage, and sheer determination for Witbank Combined Christian School. For the very first time, our school took part in a district debate competition organised by the Department of Community Safety Security and Liason – a bold step into the unknown.
Three brave students – Kimberly Ndoro (Grade 10), Qhamani Mlenzana (Grade 11), and Snethemba Mongwe (Grade 10) – stepped up, nervous but determined. None of them, nor their coaches Mr Nyamayaro and Ms Matema, had ever witnessed or participated in such a debate before. But that didn’t stop them.
With trembling hands and hopeful hearts, they began their journey. Behind the scenes, they practiced day after day, pushing through fear and uncertainty. They memorised, improvised, and perfected their arguments. Passion fuelled them, and dedication kept them going.
On Saturday, 17 May – the date originally communicated for the event – they arrived at the Witbank Fire Station, dressed to impress and full of anticipation. Only to discover, right at the venue, that the date and location had been changed! The debate was now to be held at Tasbert Park Laerskool Hall a week later.
Yes, they were disappointed. Anyone would be. But they didn’t let that stop them. With incredible resilience, they went back to the drawing board and continued rehearsing. They didn’t lose their vision. They stayed focused.
And then came Saturday, 24 May. They walked into Tasbert Park Laerskool with confidence, dressed sharply, heads high, and hearts ready. This time, it was the real deal – seven schools battling it out in a fierce and passionate road safety debate. But when the dust settled, WCCS rose to the top..

Our very own Sinethemba was selected among the top three debaters to represent the district at regional level! Witbank Combined Christian School scooped the 4th position. Considering it was their first
time, and that they walked in without full knowledge of some rules and procedures, this was no ordinary achievement. This was historic.
We are beyond proud of these young champions who proved that passion, preparation, and faith can take you far. We also salute Mr Nyamayaro and Ms Matema, the tireless teachers who stood by their side, coached them, believed in them, and brought out their best.

To the parents of these amazing learners – thank you for your unwavering support. You stood behind your children, gave them the courage to shine, and believed in their potential.
To the school directors, thank you for your continued support and for always investing in the future of our learners.
And to the organisers of the debate, and our gracious hosts at Tasbert Park Laerskool – we appreciate you! Thank you for creating a platform where young minds can grow, shine, and be heard.
We now look forward to seeing Sinethemba fly our flag even higher at the regional – and hopefully the provincial national – level.
This was more than a debate. It was a milestone. A moment. A movement. A story worth telling again and again.