Ekurhuleni MMC for Developmental Planning and Real Estate, Nomadlozi Nkosi (green top) with Ekurhuleni’s top matric achievers. Photo by Happy Mnguni
TOP Ekurhuleni matric achievers awarded for their hard work.
The pupils received their accolades during the Godfrey Pitje Academic Excellence Awards ceremony, which was held at Dumisani Masilela Theatre in Germiston, Ekurhuleni on Tuesday, 28 January.
Gauteng Education, Sports, Heritage, Recreation, Arts and Culture MEC Matome Chiloane congratulated the top Ekurhuleni matric achievers.
“The late president Nelson Mandela once said: ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’. Today, we gather in this magnificent Dumisani Masilela Theatre not just to celebrate individual achievements, but to witness the transformative power of education in action. We gather to honour excellence at an even more local level, celebrating the outstanding achievements within the City of Ekurhuleni.
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“Musawenkosi Buthelezi, as our top-performing matriculant and best performer from a school that is part of our Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP), you stand before us today as living proof of what American civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune meant when she eluded that investment in knowledge pays the best interest,” said the MEC.
“Buthelezi, your journey from an SSIP school to academic excellence demonstrates that with the right support and determination, every child in our province can achieve greatness.”
Ekurhuleni municipal speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga presenting Ekurhuleni top matric achiever, Musawenkosi Buthelezi with an award. Photo by Happy Mnguni
Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza congratulated the class of 2024 and the recipients of the certificates and bursaries. He said the awards represent a crucial intervention aimed at empowering and educating the youth.
“These initiatives are designed to recognise and celebrate academic excellence among pupils, providing not only incentives for high achievement but also fostering a culture of learning.
“The awards serve to inspire a sense of community, motivating peers to strive for excellence and reinforcing the notion that education is a transformative force in their lives,” said Xhakaza.
The pupils said they were happy to be among the best top achievers.
Musawenkosi (18) from Kwa-Thema in Springs received R20 000 from City Ekurhuleni to spend towards his needs. He said he will be studying medicine at the University of Cape Town.
“I’m excited and quite overwhelmed, but I believe it was all hard work, dedication, consistency and actually prioritising whatever I had to prioritise in order to be successful.
“I plan to study medicine and integrate it with a BSc in neuroscience, so I look forward to the next seven years. I thank my mother and family who have been supportive. I cherish and love them,” said Musawenkosi.
From left: Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, Kamva Mputa from Inqayizivele Secondary School and Ekurhuleni Maayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza during the awards ceremony. Photo by Happy Mnguni
Kamva Mputa (18) from Thembisa was among the top six performing pupils. She attended Inqayizivele Secondary School.
She said: “I feel very special to be among the recipients of the awards. This is a precious moment that I’ll never forget. This shows that hard work and dedication pay and are honoured.”
She added that she has dreamt of studying chemical engineering in Cape Town ever since she was young.
“I have wanted to be in the engineering industry ever since I was a young child and I’m happy I will finally pursue my dream,” she said.
Nonkululeko Maphanga, who attended Jiyana Secondary School and obtained 100% in economics, said she was delighted to receive an award.
The 18-year-old from Thembisa will study towards a Bachelor of Accounting at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
“I’m humbled and honoured to receive the accolades from the municipality. Obtaining such awards will be a testimony to everyone that studying at township schools won’t stop anyone from achieving the best results,” she said.
She added:
“The open secret to success is to study hard and be dedicated to your books. My advice to other children who attend kasi schools is simple: set your goals and work towards achieving them.”
Ntokozo Nyembe (18) said she’s grateful and happy that she’s the first child in her family to go to university. She is going to study actuarial science at the University of Pretoria.
Ntokozo, who attended Tsakane Secondary School, said her dedication has paid off.
“I aim to make my parents proud by continuing to work hard at university. They’ve been supportive and helped me throughout high school. The best gift I can give them is to graduate and get a degree,” said Ntokozo.
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