Marine Opperman of Northern Cape will compete with Mpumalanga's Sibusiso Khoza and Star Khulu, from Free State, for the national finals of the 2007 Sowetan and Anglo American Young Communicators Awards.

Marine Opperman of Northern Cape will compete with Mpumalanga's Sibusiso Khoza and Star Khulu, from Free State, for the national finals of the 2007 Sowetan and Anglo American Young Communicators Awards.

Opperman of Duineveld High School in Upington, pipped Elbie Masango of Upington High School and Thandeka James of Kimberley Girls High School.

Other provincial eliminations will take place in Mmabatho, North West, on April 21; Polokwane, Limpopo, on May 5; Worcester, Western Cape, on May 12; Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on May 15; Soweto, Gauteng, on May 19; and East London in Eastern Cape on May 26. The finals take place in Johannesburg on June 9.

Open to grade 11 and 12 pupils whose first language is not English, the competition encourages proficiency in English by promoting good speech-making and presentation skills. - Victor Mecoamere