DELMAS – Top academic performance was celebrated at the 2024 Matric Awards, where Tsotetsi Thabang from Mafa Max Motloung achieved an impressive 89.3% pass rate, followed closely by Ngciphuka Phumzile from Phaphamani Secondary School with 88%, and Noluthando Kabine from Mafa Max Motloung with 85.5%.
Thabang and Kabine also excelled in Mathematics, scoring 94% each, and Thabang achieved 94% in isiZulu Home Language as well.
Their outstanding achievements were recognised at the 2024 Matric Awards held on Friday, 7 February 2025, at Mafa Max Motloung.
Swartklip Combined School was awarded the Most Improved School with a remarkable 23% increase in pass rate, while Mafa Max Motloung took home the School with Most Bachelor Passes Award with an impressive 131 bachelor passes.
Hoërskool Delmas was named the Best Performing School with an outstanding 96.4% pass rate.
In his congratulatory remarks, Lawrence Ntimane, Standard Bank Public Sector Manager, emphasised the bank’s commitment to partnering with schools and teachers to deliver better education and achieve better results. The bank also announced cash rewards for the educators who excelled in the respective subjects they teach, as well as for the award-winning schools.
On behalf of the Mbuyelo Coal family, Mandla Ngoma, chairperson of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), pledged to fund the education of four learners, two from Mafa Max Motloung and two from Hoërskool Delmas. Ngoma also emphasised the importance of supporting education and recognising the value of lifelong learning.
The event, sponsored by EXXARO Leeuwpan, Mbuyelo Coal, Daybreak Foods, and Standard Bank, brought together parents, teachers, and learners to celebrate academic excellence.
In attendance were Victor Khanye Mayor Vusi Buda, traditional leaders, and parents, who showed their support for the learners and schools. In his address, Mayor Buda announced that the municipality had committed R500,000 towards assisting learners with registering at higher learning institutions. The municipality also handed a special honour to the Circuit Manager, Linah Ngwenya, recognising her leadership in driving the significant improvement in circuit performance over the years, from 72.5% in 2022, to 78.8% in 2023, and then reaching 83.2% in 2024.

