DEPUTY Education Minister Enver Surty will address the award ceremony of the 2009 South African Model United Nations National Conference on Robben Island off Cape Town on Monday.

DEPUTY Education Minister Enver Surty will address the award ceremony of the 2009 South African Model United Nations National Conference on Robben Island off Cape Town on Monday.

This. the 12th yearly MTN SA Foundation and Education Africa sponsored and organised showcase of public speaking and general knowledge skills in politics, starts today.

Participating pupils come from high schools from across South Africa and guest teams come from Kenya, the UK and US.

The event - which follows a United Nations General Assembly format - takes place at the Cape Town Metropolitan Chambers in the local Civic Centre.

The topics for debate include Global Responsibility Towards Failed States, taking place today; Developments in the field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, taking place tomorrow.

Nine South African teams from the country's nine provinces will compete with teams from abroad.

The overall winners will be announced on Monday on Robben Island. The best performing South African delegation will visit the United Nations on an educational tour and will also attend an international conference in New York next year in April.