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ACHIEVER: Zinhle Novazi, who won the Young Communicator Award of 2012. PHOTO: BONGANI MNGUNI

 Zinhle Novazi walked away with a R65,000 study bursary and R15,000 for her school  

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Zinhle Novazi was named the 2012 winner of the Anglo American Young Communicators Award on Saturday at Turbine Hall in Newtown, Johannesburg.

She competed against eight young public speakers from the other South African provinces.

Novazi, 18, of Bloemfontein in Free State, confidently blew the crowd away with her thought-provoking oration.

Her speech was about the You Only Live Once generation - yolo.

She called the yolo concept a "clever concept of saying do everything right the first time around because you might never get a second chance".

"They say we are lazy. Well, for once 'they' are right," she said in her speech.

"We are lazy, because being lazy is what makes us so productive. When we are lazy we get inspired to come up with new innovations or more effective methods to do things, so that it requires less human effort."

The public speaking bug bit Novazi after a teacher introduced her to it. She has been involved in public speaking for almost a year.

She cites US President Barack Obama as a great orator and admires his ability to engage with the youth.

The matric pupil at St Michael's School for Girls plans to study BComm (Law) and get involved in politics after graduation.

She says it hasn't quite sunk in that she won the competition, but "I am emotional and very happy and excited".

Her motto in life is "the sky is the limit".

Novazi walked away with a R65,000 study bursary and R15,000 for her school.

She will also be representing the country at the 2013 English speaking Union's International Public Speaking Competition in London, England, next year.

"I am honoured to represent my country and also excited since I have never been out of the country before," Novazi said.

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