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A win for Team South Africa in The Hague

29 January 2016

Team South Africa has won the 2016 International Schools Moot Court competition, held in The Hague in Holland. The city is home to the United Nation's International Court of Justice, headquartered in the Peace Palace, and the International Criminal Court.

Team South Africa winner of Internaional Moot Court competition in #TheHague #pleaforpeace https://t.co/BMuCaVGHAK pic.twitter.com/rhlcxz8qMy

— City of The Hague (@CityOfTheHague) January 22, 2016

This year, the competition, held from 18 to 22 January, focused on the issue of crimes against humanity during a time of war.

Out of the 11 other countries that participated in the competition – namely, Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany, Mongolia, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, St Martens, USA, and Venezuela – South Africa triumphed over Team USA in the final.

The South African team comprised pupils from various schools ranging from rural to former model C schools. The successful team members were: Nthabiseng Mbatha, Simon Motsheweni, Paseka Selinyane, Claire Rankin, Clara-Marie Macheke, Katelyn Chettle and Shandre Smith.

We are still celebrating the achievement of TeamSA for winning the 2016 International Schools Moot Court competition pic.twitter.com/srlxKijXKV

— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) January 27, 2016

"Contestants were given an opportunity to argue both as defender and complainant using international criminal law and treaties that are relevant to the International Criminal Court," said the Department of Basic Education.

"We take the opportunity to congratulate Claire Rankin and Clara-Marie Macheke from Springfield Convent in the Western Cape for taking the top spot at the International Schools Moot Court Competition at The Hague, after toppling Team USA."

The competition is usually presided over by the judges from the International Criminal Court. This year Judge Howard Morrison and Judge Raul Pangalangan chaired the debate.

We also need to send a shout out to their mentors, law students for the University of Pretoria! pic.twitter.com/qo4QCJTPCs

— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) January 27, 2016

Source: Department of Basic Education