LEFT THEIR IMPACT
Last week, TWO matriculants from Cape Town were honored with the Ministerial Award, a recognition bestowed upon students who have demonstrated remarkable resilience against the odds.
Onga Mabusela from Thembelihle Secondary School and Christoffel Petrus Lombard from Hoër Tegniese Skool Drostdy overcame significant challenges to achieve what many deemed “impossible,” securing their places among the province’s top matriculants.
Mabusela graduated with a bachelor’s pass and achieved 7 distinctions, including Mathematics and Physical Science, all while grappling with the aftermath of losing his home to a fire in 2023 and frequently facing hunger, depending on the school’s feeding program.
Siyabonga Plaatjie, Mabusela’s father, praised his son’s resilience in the wake of the family’s home being destroyed.
The elated father stated: “I am incredibly proud of him. Despite all the challenges, he managed to accomplish so much.
“When the fire occurred in 2023, we lost everything; his books and school clothes were destroyed. The flames started near our home while he was in Grade 11.”
Onga shared with the Cape Argus that his secret to success lay in his unwavering determination and relentless academic effort.
He expressed: “I am thrilled that my hard work has borne fruit. It’s not about your beginnings but about where you envision yourself; achieving that requires dedication and perseverance.
“I was resolute; life will throw challenges our way but we must endure. Tough times will pass, but with determination, a brighter life awaits us.”
Lombard, who uses a wheelchair and was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at birth, faced further adversity when he broke his leg during his matric year yet continued to excel.
Brent Walters, head of the Western Cape Education Department, acknowledged the students’ success despite the numerous challenges they faced.
Walters added: “Lombard was the first wheelchair-bound student at his high school, where his peers assisted in moving furniture and fetching items from his school bag when necessary.
“Due to the progressive nature of his illness, he skipped Grade 9, aiming to sit for his matric exams independently.
“Despite skipping a grade, he maintained a position in the top 10 academically.
“Compounding his challenges was the leg injury during his matric year. Even while recuperating at home, he stayed on track with the help of his teachers.”
A standing ovation was given to Rayyan Ebrahim from Pinelands High School, who emerged as the top candidate for both the Western Cape and the country, excelling particularly in Physics.
Recognition was also extended to top-performing public schools, such as Beacon Hill and Hoerskool Tulbagh, along with the technical school that demonstrated the most improvement in bachelor pass rates, and other schools excelling in specific subjects.
Maynier commended schools that showed remarkable enhancements in their matriculation pass rates, including Lotus High School, which only had a pass rate of 38.2% in 2022.
Thanks to the remarkable efforts of their principal, Stephen Price, and committed teaching staff, along with support from surrounding schools and communities, they achieved a pass rate of 83.3% in 2024,” Maynier noted.
Speaking to the Cape Argus, Price remarked that it was the diligent work of both teachers and students that contributed to their success: “In 2022, our school had a pass rate of 38%; I joined in 2023, midway through the year, and the matriculants had a pass rate of 32% after completing their June examinations.”