Ivory Park's top matric achievers were honoured at a glamourous event hosted by the local taxi association.
The extraordinary event saw Ivory Park Taxi Association (IPTA) bring Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba, top motivational speaker Billy Selekane and matriculants under one roof.
The IPTA celebrated top achievers from 10 high schools in the area.
The top achievers whose results ranged from four to seven distinctions were rewarded with laptops.
Pupils, who packed the Ivory Park community hall to the rafters, cheered loudly and gave a standing ovation as emotional street hawker Petrus Ratsoma walked to the stage to collect his daughter's award.
Tebogo Ratsoma was the overall winner with seven distinctions.
Sowetan reported on the Ratsomas, who could not afford to pay for their daughter's university fees, a month ago.
A week later Tebogo was awarded a bursary by the Department of Health to study medicine at the University of Cape Town.
Her family was pleasantly surprised to learn that SA Airways had upgraded her ticket to business class.
"The airport staff was waiting for her. They gathered around her and wished her well.
"They said SAA had upgraded her ticket and said she would travel in the luxurious part of the plane. We were overwhelmed.
"I am proud of my daughter," Tebogo's father Petrus Ratsoma said.
IPTAc hairmanJohannes Mkhonza said: "We are proud of these children and we want to show them that we appreciate their hard work.
"We want to lift Ivory Park and celebrate excellence by young people and encouraging them to do well is the best place to start."
Motshekga was overwhelmed by the IPTA's efforts.
"What you did for this community is huge, thank you for making education a societal problem," said Motshekga. She encouraged pupils to take life seriously.
"You have come too far to be here, make it worth your while, you need to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Rise above your challenges and do not have self-pity. We beg you to do the right things. Respect yourself, be humble and put education first," she said. The audience was given food for thought by Selekane. "For those who failed, it's an opportunity for you to do things differently. If you do things the same way all the time, nothing will change. Your vision will supercede your circumstances," he said.
ratsatsip@sowetan.co.za
Taxi group honours pupils
Ivory Park's top matric achievers were honoured at a glamourous event hosted by the local taxi association.
The extraordinary event saw Ivory Park Taxi Association (IPTA) bring Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba, top motivational speaker Billy Selekane and matriculants under one roof.
The IPTA celebrated top achievers from 10 high schools in the area.
The top achievers whose results ranged from four to seven distinctions were rewarded with laptops.
Pupils, who packed the Ivory Park community hall to the rafters, cheered loudly and gave a standing ovation as emotional street hawker Petrus Ratsoma walked to the stage to collect his daughter's award.
Tebogo Ratsoma was the overall winner with seven distinctions.
Sowetan reported on the Ratsomas, who could not afford to pay for their daughter's university fees, a month ago.
A week later Tebogo was awarded a bursary by the Department of Health to study medicine at the University of Cape Town.
Her family was pleasantly surprised to learn that SA Airways had upgraded her ticket to business class.
"The airport staff was waiting for her. They gathered around her and wished her well.
"They said SAA had upgraded her ticket and said she would travel in the luxurious part of the plane. We were overwhelmed.
"I am proud of my daughter," Tebogo's father Petrus Ratsoma said.
IPTAc hairmanJohannes Mkhonza said: "We are proud of these children and we want to show them that we appreciate their hard work.
"We want to lift Ivory Park and celebrate excellence by young people and encouraging them to do well is the best place to start."
Motshekga was overwhelmed by the IPTA's efforts.
"What you did for this community is huge, thank you for making education a societal problem," said Motshekga. She encouraged pupils to take life seriously.
"You have come too far to be here, make it worth your while, you need to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Rise above your challenges and do not have self-pity. We beg you to do the right things. Respect yourself, be humble and put education first," she said. The audience was given food for thought by Selekane. "For those who failed, it's an opportunity for you to do things differently. If you do things the same way all the time, nothing will change. Your vision will supercede your circumstances," he said.
ratsatsip@sowetan.co.za
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