The Randfontein Municipality honoured the town’s top matric pupils at a grand ceremony at the IEC hall recently.
To mark the special occasion, Peter Skosana, Gauteng Department of Education’s District Director gave a presentation. In his speech he acknowledged the mayor as a proponent of education and thanked her for all she has done in Randfontein to bring about stability in its schools.
Skosana also said he was very proud of the children. The results of all the schools were changing for the better gradually and the average pass rate was between 80 and 100 per cent.
According to Skosana the Gauteng province achieved the highest marks for Life Sciences and Maths, and was among the top four in Business Studies. Skosana ended with a quote from the late Nelson Mandela: “It is only through education that you can better yourself. We must invest in young people so that the son of a miner can become a doctor.”
Mayor Sylvia Thebenare who initiated the awards event three years ago also congratulated the pupils and praised them for their hard work throughout the year.
“The municipality focused on new bursary applications this year because our funds were limited, but would consider bursaries for second and third year students if they work hard and show commitment to their studies.”
Another guest for the evening was second-year student Brian Boitumelo Pharumele who received a bursary last year and achieved five distinctions in his first year at university. In his speech he gave the matric class of 2014 some advice.
“University can make or break you, but go back to the basics and never forget where you come from,” he said.
The top pupils of each school then were called to the stage. They are:
• Ithuteng Secondary School: Tshepo Mere
• Lukhanyo High School: Lesego Mothwa
• Hoërskool Jan Viljoen: Bianca Erasmus
• Hoërskool Riebeeckrand: Lourens Biggs
• AB Phokompe: Danisile Mkhwanazi
• Randfontein Secondary School: Delmein Thomas
• Randfontein High School (RHS): Makgotso Mafojane
• Phahama Secondary School: Sizwe Mthembu
• Thuto-Lehakwe Secondary School: Tumelo Daniel
