PHUTI MOSOMANE
BASIC Education Minister Angie Motshekga has congratulated the Matric Class of 2022, saying they were an affirmation of an education system that was not broken but on the rise.
Motshekga said last year’s matrics had to deal with COVID-19 interruptions since 2020, and also had to deal with Eskom’s load shedding, floods and community protests.
The minister was speaking at a special breakfast she hosted for the top achievers and their parents in Randburg, Johannesburg on Thursday.
“You are true affirmation of a system that is not broken but rising. An embodiment of true ambassadors of public schooling,” Motshekga said.
She praised learners for showing perseverance, dedication and, above all, hard work.
“We thank learners for putting in the hours and avoiding the well-beaten path to failure by being slack. We thank the teachers for recognising the spark of greatness in these learners and lighting a fire under. Success beckons success! Go forth and conquer,” said Motshekga.
“To tower over your peers is no fluke, an accident of history, but it is a triumph reserved for those whose greatness is yet to be experienced.”
Motshekga said under the current socio-economic challenges in South Africa, last year’s top achievers gave their parents and guardians hope to end generational poverty in their families.
“I am impressed that this generation never gave up. You carry our hopes as a nation that tomorrow will be better,” Motshekga added.
Department of Basic Education Director-General Mathanzima Mweli said learners “remained the light in the midst of loadshedding”.
“Today we are celebrating the ‘Top Dogs’ of the Class of 2022,” Mweli said.
Mweli thanked parents and guardians for working with schools in ensuring that social ills do not interfere with education of their children.
During the post-breakfast briefing, Inside Education spoke to some of the top achievers.
Here is what they had to say|
Brotas Nkomo, from DD Mabuza Comprehensive School, in Mpumalanga, said despite the impact of loadshedding he had to ensure that he carefully developed a plan to study more using natural light.Â
“I am very happy about this recognition. I was taken by surprise but I am thankful to everyone who made it possible,” said Nkomo.
Kanetso Lekhisa, from the Commtech Comprehensive School in Bloemfontein in the Free State, thanked Motshekga and his teachers for paving the way for him to be acknowledged with the top achievers’ award.
Mountainview Secondary School learner, Nikita Govender, from Verulam in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, said: “I am excited to be here. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and I am grateful for my all my hard work.”
Another top achiever, Simone Anna-Mart Louw, from Bloemhof Girls High school in the Western Cape, thanked her teachers for making it possible to be honoured.Â
Gwiba Nokenge, who hails from Toli High School in deep rural Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, says he was planning to study Mechatronics Engineering degree at the University of Cape Town.Â
His mother, Khuliswa Nonkenge, said she never thought her son will be honoured as a top achiever given the challenges he and other pupils encountered in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape.Â
“I am really happy to see my child being honoured. As you know, our villages are struggling to get much support but I am happy to the department, and the teachers,” Nonkenge said.
Meanwhile, MTN Plus Manager Miriam Mathebula congratulated matriculants and said they have demonstrated that anything is possible. “You have defeated disruptions brought by the COVID-19,” said Mathebula.
Tebogo Maenetja, the Chief Human Resources Officer, urged top achievers to explore careers in technology innovations.
“MTN is currently recruiting for the jobs with skills that we have not yet developed,” said Maenetja.
INSIDE EDUCATION
