South Africa's 16 top debating schools were represented including, Clifton School, Muir College, Parktown High for Girls, Pretoria Girls High and St Andrews College.
"The Middle East Peace" and "Youth Vote 2009" were some of teh topics discussed.
High profile guest speakers including South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni, Professor Ben Turok, Constitutional Court judge Edwin Cameron, Deputy Minister of Education, Advocate Andre Gaum and Olympics gold medallist Penny Heyns were present.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation organised a photo opportunity with Nelson Mandela for the ASDC Final.
There were two parallel competitions where the nation teams compete against each other and where the best schools' teams in SA compete against each other. South Africa beat Botswana in the nations final and a combined team from the Free State of St Dominics and Heronbridge Colleges emerged as the top debating school team.
Describing the importance of the debating competition, organiser Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh said: "Not only does this instill, democratic ideals in our students but also prepares them to lead thoughtfully. The ASDC also has an immense impact on their individual lives in the present."
