Approximately 120 learners, teachers and community members gathered at Hammanskraal Community Hall on 22 May for the 2026 City of Tshwane Libraries Debate Finals, marking the culmination of months of regional competitions held across the metro.
Organised by the City’s Department of Community and Social Development Services in partnership with the Department of Education, the event brought together the top two teams from each region. In the final round, participants debated whether artificial intelligence does more harm than good, presenting arguments on issues such as social equity, privacy and the impact of AI on human skills.
In earlier rounds held in April and May, learners debated whether private schools outperform public schools. The competition aims to develop literacy, research and public speaking skills, while providing young people with a platform to engage critically with current issues.
The programme was launched in December 2018, paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2021. It has since become an annual initiative aimed at positioning libraries as dynamic spaces for learning and youth development, rather than solely as repositories for books.
MMC for Community and Social Development Services, Cllr Palesa Modise, said the initiative goes beyond recognising winners.
“It creates safe spaces for young people to engage with real issues, build confidence and strengthen values such as respect, dialogue and active citizenship. It also helps to foster a culture of learning and positive youth development,” she said.
Winners received awards for overall performance and academic excellence. City officials said the debates help prepare learners to participate meaningfully in public discourse.
The City added that it will continue supporting programmes that promote youth development and encourage a culture of reading.