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As testament to the exceptional talent and leadership in WSU, 4th-year Political Sciences student, Khanyisani Chiliza has been appointed as Secretary for the prestigious Southern Africa Universities Debate Championship (SAUDC).
The SAUDC is one of the most esteemed debate platforms in the region, bringing together the brightest minds from universities across Southern Africa.
“I am excited about this opportunity because it reflects the work that I have done within the university, and now I have an opportunity to expand that work and represent WSU in the Southern region,” he said.
Chiliza’s journey in debate kicked off in his second year where he joined the WSU debate council and was eventually elected head coach in 2024.
His dedication to student-led debates and initiatives has led to his participation in four open debate championships, with the most recent being the Open Debate competition held at the University of Free State in Bloemfontein.
Their success led to the team competing in the SAUDC held in Botswana with 26 other universities from Southern Africa region.
Chiliza said, “WSU has shaped me to be much more resilient and has taught me to fight for the things I want. I have used those lessons in the debate council where I was very much persistence in seeing development which led to our first international participation in a long time.”
According to Chiliza, his most memorable moments in his debating journey stem from being named one of the Top 50 best speakers in the Southern region by SAUDC, to being selected to judge some of the most prestigious debate competitions.
“As a political science student debate has become an integral part of my life. It has shaped me in terms of becoming a confident speaker and taking charge as a young leader,” said Chiliza.
Chiliza will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation and success of the championship.
His duties will include coordinating communication among participating universities, overseeing administrative tasks, and assisting in the planning and execution of debate events.
By Ongezwa Sigodi
