SIPHELELE NKETO
THE matric excellence awards at the Bulwer Community Hall, on Tuesday, February 3, presented deeply emotional scenes of mothers crying tears of joy as they watched their children cross the stage to receive their awards.
The day was the culmination of months of hard work and overcoming challenges such as financial hardships.
Bavumile Miya, whose son Usiphile was among the 2025 matric top achievers, could not contain her tears.
Miya broke into tears when her son was called to the stage to receive an award for 4th place of the matric top achievers under the Department of Education Pholela Circuit Management Centre in KZN.
“My son failed to attend the matric dance because of my financial struggles. My support for him to focus on his studies despite difficulties paid off. I am now a proud mother because of his hard work,” said Miya.
The matric top achiever in 5th place was Nqubeko Miya who achieved five distinctions. She described her matric year as the most challenging in her life as she pushed hard to attain outstanding results.
Lungiswa Myende of Centocow High School attained 3rd place with seven distinctions, while Asiphile Kwela of Dingeka Technical High School achieved 2nd place. Zamajola Ngqulunga of Mdingi High achieved the 1st place and encouraged the matric class of 2026 to respect their teachers and work hard.
The awards ceremony hosted by the Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality also recognised top performing schools and teachers.
Schools that achieved a 100% pass mark were: Batlokoa Senior Secondary, Faithway College, Enhlanhleni Combined School, Siqhoza Secondary, Dumabezwe High, Ngonyama High, Emasamini Senior Secondary and Mandadla High School.
The other 17 schools received a matric pass rate of between 73.7% and 98.8%. The Department of Education’s chief education specialist under the Pholela Circuit Management Centre Thembekile Dlamini called for the 2026 matric class to set the bar high, as Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Local Municipality deputy mayor Kholeka Hadebe shared the same sentiments towards the 2026 matric class.
Hadebe explained that the matric excellence awards formed part of municipal strategic intervention in partnership with stakeholders to institutionalise the culture of excellence and promote continuous academic achievement.
The management team of the Pholela Circuit Management Centre received special recognition in ensuring that schools achieved outstanding results.
