PHOLA – Jubilation, ululation, song, and dance filled the air as top-achieving 2024 matriculants in the Nkangala district were honoured for their hard work.
The celebration took place at Makause Technical School on January 23, 2025.
Guests at the event included the executive mayor of Nkangala District, Thomas Ngwenya, the executive mayor of Emalahleni, Vusi Nhlapho, and the deputy minister of correctional services, Lindiwe Ntjalintjali.
Learners were awarded trophies, R10,000, travel bags, cellphones, laptops, and certificates. Representatives from schools that achieved a 100% overall pass rate were also in attendance.
Steve Tshwete Municipality was recognised as the overall top-performing municipality with a 92.9% pass rate, followed by eMalahleni at 90.3%, DR JS Moroka at 85.5%, and Victor Kanye at 83.2%. Thembisile Hani and Emakhazeni municipalities achieved 79.2% and 69.6%, respectively.
The district showed an 8.8% improvement from the previous year’s results. In 2023, the district had six schools that obtained a 100% pass rate, which increased to 11 schools in 2024.
Out of 60,915 learners who wrote matric, 6,716 passed with bachelor’s passes, 4,599 obtained diplomas, and 2,152 earned higher certificates. Makause Technical School was commended for maintaining a 100% pass rate for the past three years.
Nkangala District Mayor, Thomas Ngwenya, emphasised the importance of supporting the educational aspirations of young people in the district.
He expressed his joy, saying, “Your determination, resilience, and hard work have brought you here today. You have set a shining example for others to follow, proving that excellence is possible, even in the face of challenges.”
“Your achievements are not just numbers or grades; they represent the long hours you dedicated to studying, the sacrifices you made, and your unwavering commitment to achieving your goals,” Ngwenya added.
Douglas Maja, the Nkangala district director, also congratulated the matric class of 2024.
“Your outstanding academic performance, your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have truly paid off. This achievement is a shining testament to your commitment to excellence,” Maja said.
He encouraged all stakeholders to continue working together to improve the education of young people.
