WATCH: Motshekga hosts 2019’s top 30 matric achievers

The department of basic education spared no expense to host 30 of the best-performing pupils from throughout the country at an event at the Vodacom Dome in Midrand yesterday.

The pupils, who were still in the dark about how they had performed, had been flown into Gauteng the previous day with their family members to be treated to a swanky breakfast where Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga showered them with praise.

“Even the demeanor of the kids I’m sitting with, you can see they have acquired the best results. I’m really enjoying the company at my table. You can see they have humility, respect, hard work.”

She said the country was now hoping they would use their success in school to give back to the country and joked about wanting to bump into them in the hospital as a health worker, or in a plane as a pilot.

“Take us with you,” she told them, “You are the future that will carry us into the Fourth Industrial Revolution!”

Still grappling to come to terms with reality, Lutendo Mulaisi, one of the top pupils from Limpopo, expressed his shock at being invited to break bread with the minister.

“I’m feeling really excited but a little bit nervous. I don’t exactly know why I am here but I’m hoping it’s not bad,” he said smiling shyly.

He added that 2020 is a year of huge responsibility for him and that his matric year had taught him about the importance of hard work and consistency.

Another top achiever from Limpopo, Blessings Chauke, attempted to contain her excitement as she spent most of her time praising the support she received from her teachers and parents.

“My challenge was not having people to compete with (in school) so there was no pressure to do better than them (her classmates). But I got my motivation from my teachers and it led me to be where I am today.”

She said growing up in Limpopo and being the eldest of three siblings, her parents were also very supportive of her school work.

“Even when I didn’t do well, they would always motivate me,” she said.

She said she planned to study mechanical engineering at the University of Pretoria this year.

Another top performer from Limpopo, Psasani Nestanduvho, said the call from the minister’s office that he had made it to the top 30 had also shocked him.

“I’m hoping to go back home with something great,” he said.

Hailing from KwaZulu-Natal, Baganda Mahlaba also cautiously expressed his excitement moderately and blushed when asked how he felt about being invited to the event.

“I was always a top achiever but I never knew my results would be as big as this. There were other pupils that were doing better than me, so I didn’t expect this.”

He said his favourite subjects were technical maths and engineering graphics and design. He planned to focus on these subjects as he set sights on studying mechanical engineering this year at the Nelson Mandela University, away from home.

Gracing the event in a well-fitting turquoise suit, a physical science teacher from an Eastern Cape school only referring to himself as Mr Leshaba, told The Citizen he was at the breakfast, usually held annually, for the second time as yet another one of his students had made the top 30 list.

The proud teacher said: “I feel happy and motivated. It shows the pupils are taking whatever we tell them and making use of it to attain a higher level of proficiency!”

Reflecting after the breakfast on the backgrounds of the pupils who attended her breakfast, Minister Motshekga said: “The top schools have reached the limit, can’t go beyond 100% so it can only improve from the bottom. And with ongoing improvements in results it is evident that the bottom is beginning to shape up.”

– jenniffero@citizen.co.za

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