Randfontein High School (RHS), an eventual District Director’s Special Award winner, was host to the big and proud West Rand District Top Achievers Awards Ceremony held for the matric class of 2017 on Friday, 2 February.
Speaking at this occasion was Oupa Koapang, the West Gauteng District Director, who re-emphasised his concern about the district’s inability to defend its title as one of the best, both provincially and nationally. He did, however, praise RHS for their remarkable achievement of a 10 consecutive years 100 per cent pass rate. Others to have achieved a 100 per cent pass rate include Azaadville Muslim School (which has achieved 15 consecutive years of a 100 per cent pass rate), Hoërskool Bastion, Hoërskool Noordheuwel (Top overall school in the district) and Rand View College – also Randfontein. (See more achievements below)
He also pointed out the emergence of top learners coming from the townships or disadvantaged communities as something special.
According to Boyce Maneli, the West Rand District Municipality Alderman, for the district’s schools to be the best, we need good leaders.
“The results reflect that we can work together as a society. Thank you, class of 2017, for making us proud in the Year of Nelson Mandela (100th celebration of Nelson Mandela). We are here to give you, those who achieved exceptional results, a send-off in preparation for the 4th Industrial Revolution which none of us can escape. Do not fear the future – rather be brave.”
Charles Moeketsi Kgomo, the top Rand West City matriculant who obtained 100 per cent in physics and 90 per cent in maths, believes that one ought not to be defined by one’s background in order to be an achiever in life.
“It is through hard work that I managed to achieve this. I am from a single parent home with an unemployed brother, but this will not stop me from achieving my goal of studying for chemical engineering at Wits.”
Best performing schools per area and different categories are:
• Kagiso/ Munsieville and Azaadville – Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School
• Mohlakeng/ Bekkersdal and Toekomsrus – T M Letlhake Secondary School
• Kokosi/ Wedela/ Khutsong – Letsatsing Secondary School
• Town schools – Hoërskool Noordheuwel
• Rural schools – Magaliesburg State School
Special District Awards
The top performing schools in Mathematics are:
• Rural schools – Magaliesburg State School
• Township schools – Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School
• Town schools – Hoërskool Noordheuwel
Top performing schools in Physical Science are:
• Rural schools – Magaliesburg State School
• Township schools – Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School
• Town schools – Hoërskool Noordheuwel
Most improved rural school – Matla Combined School
Most improved Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP) Schools – Tswasongu Secondary School, Thathulwazi WR High School and Phahama Secondary School
Most improved non-SSIP schools – Hoërskool Fochville and HTS N Diederichs THS
Top 10 achievers in terms of bachelors’ passes are:
• Hoërskool Noordheuwel
• Hoërskool Monument
• Krugersdorp High School
• Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School
• RHS
• Mosupatsela Secondary School
• Ahmed Timol Secondary School
• Hoërskool Riebeeckrand
• Fochville High School
• Hoërskool Bekker
Schools appearing in the Top 100 schools in the province are:
• Hoërskool Noordheuwel (4th)
• Hoërskool Monument (9th)
• Krugersdorp High School (30th)
• RHS (43rd)
• Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School (56th)
• Mosupatsela Secondary School (58th)
• Ahmed Timol Secondary School (78th)
Achievers
Top 100 achievers in the province are:
• Michael Beukman (Hoërskool Noordheuwel, 9th) – he is also the top performing learner in the district
• Rabia Mohamed (Ahmed Timol Secondary School, 58th)
• Estee Killian (Hoërskool Monument, 75th)
• Ferreira van Niekerk (Hoërskool Monument 76th)
Top performing learner from township – Siyabonga Lukhele (Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School)
Subject awards
• Best achiever in Mathematics – Siyabonga Lukhele (Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School)
• Best achiever in Mathematical Literacy – Adriaan Havenga (Hoërskool Monument)
• Best achievers in Physical Sciences – Siyabonga Lukhele (Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School) and Charles Moeketsi Khomo (Simunye Secondary School)
• Best achiever in Geography – Karabo Pheto (Badirile Secondary School)
• Best achiever in Life Sciences – Rabia Mohamed (Ahmed Timol Secondary School)
• Best achiever in Economics – Tshegofatso Mokgosi (Thuto Lefa Secondary School)
• Best achiever in History – Bontle Molefe (Thathulwazi WR High School)
• Best achiever in Accounting – Ferreira van Niekerk (Hoërskool Monument)
• Best achiever in Business Studies – Chane Mans (Hoërskool Monument)
• Best achiever in English FAL – Tameeka Heydenrych (Hoërskool Noordheuwel)
• Best achiever in IT – Michael Beukman (Hoërskool Noordheuwel)
• Best achiever in Culture and Arts Studies – Adriaan Havenga (Hoërskool Monument)
• Best achiever in Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Studies – Jean-Mark Viljoen (Hoërskool Monument)
• Best achiever in Services Studies – Chernae McKay (Hoërskool Riebeeckrand)
The Top 5 achievers (who achieved top marks in six subjects) are:
Mohlakeng/ Bekkersdal/ Toekomsrus – Charles Moeketsi Khomo, Tumelo Mogole, Kgotso Matshane, Sabelo Biyela and Zakes Matsimbe.
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