WeeklySA_AdminCOMMUNICATION: Eastern Cape schoolgirl wows judges with formidable debating skills at competition…
By Siyabonga Kamnqa
DESPITE the much-improved matric results in recent years, the Eastern Cape education system continues to be plagued by major challenges, including learners having to travel long distances daily – some barefoot – to school and girls missing classes due to lack of sanitary pads.
But one young Eastern Cape learner is determined to ensure that all the challenges that her peers face are adequately addressed and that things improve for the better.
Meet Onako Komsana, the newly elected president of the Eastern Cape Representative Council of Learners for 2024.
The Grade 9 pupil from Nyanga High in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, wowed judges at the provincial conference of Representative Council of Learners (RCL) held in East London on June 19 with her remarkable debating skills.
Following her triumph, Onako will be jetting off to Pretoria next week, where the national RCL will be elected.
The young girl was still beaming from ear to ear as she spoke to Weekly SA Mirror at her home in Ngcobo this week.
“It hasn’t yet sunk in that I have managed to achieve this feat. I feel honoured to have been chosen among all the brilliant learners I was up against,” said Onako.
She attributed her success to her parents “especially my mom who has been my pillar of strength in so many ways.”
“For as long as I can remember, my mother has always taught me to be confident in everything I do. In my lower grades, I used to be quite shy and my mother made me believe that I can overcome every obstacle through being confident,” said Onako, who dreams of becoming a lawyer one day.
During the debate in East London, she won the judges over with powerful points she raised on the topic: “How can the RCL members create a positive/good relationship in terms of communication between learners and teachers?”
Recalls Onako: “I spoke about the need for suggestion boxes in schools, whereby learners can raise whatever challenges they are facing. Often, we forget the fact that not everyone is an extrovert and some learners express themselves freely through writing. I also raised the problem of learners who suffer depression and anxiety. It would help a great deal if each school elects a teacher who deals specifically with the challenge of depression and anxiety. Some learners come from broken families and as a result they are unable to concentrate in class. They need someone they trust that they can talk to freely about their problems.”
Onako said she was taken aback by the positive feedback from the audience and the judges after her presentation.
“People were very excited about my speech and I guess they were shocked to see such a young learner being so sure of what she is talking about. Seeing them clap so passionately for me gave me hope that I can perhaps emerge victorious,” said the eloquently spoken young leader.
If there is one thing that pains Onako, it is witnessing many rural girls missing classes during their menstrual periods simply because they can’t afford sanitary pads.
She said in her own school she is fortunate that they receive free sanitary pads every month.
“My dream is to open a foundation whereby I donate school shoes and sanitary pads to learners. At my school we are also fortunate to have a women’s council whereby girls meet and talk openly about their problems. Through the council we are able to identify those learners who are lacking and try our best to assist them,” she said.
When she was elected as the vice president of Nyanga High School, the little girl said she vowed to create a platform for the voiceless pupils.
With this achievement I want to show the learners that they are also capable of achieving great things in life. They must look at me as an inspiration. Never in my wildest dream did I imagine that-coming from humble beginnings in the rural villages of the former Transkei-I would be where I am today,” she said.
Paying tribute to her parents, Amanda and Abonga Komsana, Okona described them as “my rocks” and said she wished to repay them by building them their dream house one day.
“Nothing is as important as the support of both parents. I don’t take it for granted at all because many other kids aren’t that fortunate to have both parents around. My parents are my biggest cheerleaders. That’s why I everything I do I always make it a point that I don’t disappoint them,” she said.
The young leader’s aim now is to write a book where she hopes to tackle the issue of literacy in South Africa.
Her message to youth is not to give up and face all the challenges head-on.
“Your current situation doesn’t define your future. Keep pushing no matter the circumstances you may be facing.”
Okona’s mother, Amanda Komsana, couldn’t hide her excitement at her daughter’s remarkable achievement, but said she wasn’t surprised because she knew the teenager’s brilliance.
“I started mentoring her in Grade 4. Back then she was still a very shy little girl. That’s when I started teaching her how to behave when in front of audiences. She blossomed the moment she enrolled at Nyanga High. I always motivate her and we have that strong daughter-mother bond. When she went to East London I had faith in her. This was not the first time that she took part in debating competitions. Previously she has taken part in a whole number of them, and impressed. I even entered her in a beauty pageant competition where she was among the top ten. The aim was to ensure that she gains as much confidence as possible. That’s why I say I have confidence in her now. She can stand infront of any audience and deliver,” said Amanda.
Her father, Abonga Komsana, said she felt highly blessed to have disciplined children.
“More than anything, she is a hard worker who spends most of her time reading her books. She wants to be a lawyer and we are behind her 100 percent and are gonna push her towards achieving that. She is the first young learner to be in the A-team at Nyanga High. “I am very proud of my daughter, but it’s all thanks to prayer. We are a praying family in this house,” he said.
