Gugu Libambo shines as Mpumalanga’s top learner, makes national top 10 list
MIDDELBURG – Gugu Libambo from Mphanama Secondary School in the Steve Tshwete municipality has been named the overall best learner in Mpumalanga province for the matric class of 2024, surpassing the 64,000 learners who wrote their final exam.
The Mpumalanga Education MEC, Cathy Dlamini, announced the results for the 2024 matric class on Tuesday, January 14, in Middelburg, a day after the formal ceremony to officially welcome educators at Othandweni Primary in Delmas.
The matriculants marked an 8% increase, achieving an 84.99% pass rate, up from the class of 2023.
The announcement of the 18-year-old achiever was made by Premier Mandla Ndlovu.
Gugu received the keys to a brand-new Toyota Vitz. As if that wasn’t enough, she was also awarded a full-time bursary for her studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT), a bar fridge, laptop, tablet, microwave, and other items such as a kettle and iron.
Reflecting on her journey, Gugu shared her secret to success, which included diligent preparation for exams through weekly schedules, revisiting past question papers, and using YouTube tutorials for additional guidance.
Despite her victory, she admitted that balancing academics with extracurricular activities was a significant challenge. “I wasn’t an organised person initially, and managing both my schoolwork and projects like the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists was difficult,” she explained.
“Sometimes, I had to miss lessons to attend workshops and experiments. However, I overcame these obstacles with the unwavering support of my family and teachers.”
She advised the class of 2025 and future matriculants to “study smart, find strategies that work for you, and believe in yourself.”
Gugu plans to study medicine at UCT and aspires to contribute to Mpumalanga’s healthcare system through research and innovative solutions to improve medical services in the province. Gugu received 7 distinctions, with Mathematics and Life Sciences both scoring 100%. In addition to being crowned the top learner in the province, she also took home honours for being the best candidate in Life Sciences, best in Mathematics, and best Quintile 3 Candidate.
Gugu was also the Education Minister’s special guest before the national results were announced, where she was recognised as the third-best learner in Quintile 3 schools. She also made it to the top 10 list of top achievers in the country, among the over 700 000 learners who wrote their Grade 12 National Senior Certificate (NSC) final exam.
Her mother, Francina Mthombeni, expressed immense pride in Gugu’s accomplishments. “We’ve always supported Gugu by working as a team to assist her with her studies. I’m overjoyed to see her making history in the province and sharing the stage with prominent figures. I never imagined she’d win a car or achieve this level of success,” she said.
