The announcement was made by the department’s minister Angie Motshekga. She said that out of more than 500 000 pupils that wrote Matric examinations last year, less than 50 had been invited to a breakfast with the minister at Vodaworld in Midrand.
“This proves that you lot are indeed the creme de la creme of [the 2014 matriculants.]”
The group was invited to the breakfast as a means for the department to congratulate them and to wish them well in their future endeavours. Vodacom, as the department’s corporate partner, hosted the breakfast and took the opportunity to launch their e-school, which is an education portal that serves grades 10 to 12.
The telecommunications chief corporate affairs officer, Maya Makanjee, said, “By providing access to Internet services to improve the standard of education, Vodacom is able to support pupils throughout the school year.”
The top achieving pupils were served a gala breakfast, and received free accommodation and transportation to Johannesburg in order to be present for the awards ceremony held at SABC studios in Auckland Park.
“It is my father’s first time sleeping in a hotel. My family was more excited than I was when I received the invite to the breakfast with the minister a few days ago,” said Bila from Ponego Comprehensive School in Katlehong, Gauteng. Bila said he was especially proud that his little sister and father could reap some of the rewards for his hard work. He also said his deceased mother was the motivation behind his determination to succeed. “My mother was a very strict person,” said Bila.
Kgomotso Comprehensive School pupil Kgabo Akubyana said he was expecting six distinctions and had sound advice for future Grade 12 pupils. “Work hard as early as January and prioritise your education. I’m expecting at least six distinctions out of seven subjects,” said the pupil from Soshanguve.
Akubyana’s advice was reiterated by Motshekga in her address to the pupils. “This breakfast is not for free. We are here to remind you that you’ve set the bar very high [and therefore you owe this country to perform at your best in the future],” she said.
