Alex’s 2016 best-achieving matrics may be enlisted by the Joburg East District of the Gauteng Department of Education to help motivate current matrics.
This was said by district director Mnyamezeli Ndevu, who lauded their success as an example of excellence and motivation.
And these achievers are keen to play the role which many believe will encourage others to inculcate values of commitment, dedication and resilience against the negativity surrounding them in their daily lives. This in a township infamous for vice, grime and poverty which these former matrics said should not define one’s character and stall positive aspirations for a better life through a commitment to education.
One such achiever, Khensane Nakedi (18) of KwaBhekilanga Secondary School credited her 70 per cent and above passes in her seven subjects to her inner strength and support from her extended family who took her in during a period of desperation. This after her mentally-disabled mother could not protect her from the abuse she experienced when growing up. Some of her abusers were arrested and sentenced.
“With inner strength, commitment, dedication, support and hard work, change in one’s conditions and success are possible,” Nakedi stressed. Her aunt, according to Nakedi, monitored her every step and kept her awake studying until late.
Read: Gauteng matrics top all in country with bachelor passes
She urged those in matric to entrust their lives to education and to keep focused.
Nakedi has a full bursary to study computer science at the University of Pretoria. “I want to upgrade social media systems and be gainfully employed immediately before also pursuing medicine to enable me to help the community.”
Fellow achiever, Nyeleti Ngobeni (19) from the same school, said she achieved good results by driving herself to beyond breaking point in her schoolwork. This, to advance to tertiary education that she said would help improve her family’s circumstances.
Ngobeni said she was two years old when her father abandoned her mother. “My mother sat with me throughout my late night studies and now, only the sky is my limit,” she said, urging current matrics to be disciplined, punctual and determined. She will study economics and law at the University of Cape Town.
Fellow matric, Makgale Tlaka (18) credited his pass marks to parental support and hard work and urged current matrics to be dedicated and to associate with positive and respectful friends. “They should value the importance of education and be keen to work hard as it will pay off in the end,” he said.
Makhale has registered with the University of Johannesburg for electrical engineering studies.
Read: A second chance for matrics
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