Namhla Tshisela

Namhla Tshisela

Pupils at Thuto-Lefa Secondary School in Munsieville on the West Rand exuded confidence yesterday because they knew that success was inevitable.

The school's three top pupils were Candy Mabunda, Annie Nkomo and Rebaone Matiting.

Mabunda, 18, smiled when teachers told her she had passed.

"I didn't think I would come up tops," she said. "I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting it because the final exams were very difficult."

The daughter of a gardener and domestic worker, she said she was inspired by her parents to do better. A bout of chickenpox before writing her maths exams did not dampen her spirits.

"I had to take a few days off studying and rest."

Her three distinctions and four Bs will enable her to study electrical engineering at the University of Johannesburg.

"I want to motivate others to do maths and science because these two subjects drive the world. Without them education would be boring," she said.

Nkomo, 18, was inspired by her mentor, a structural engineer, and wants to follow in her footsteps.

"My teachers were approachable," she said. "I could always go to them for help."

Matiting was happy that she obtained a distinction in Setswana and said: "We couldn't rely on the previous year's matriculants because the syllabus was different.

"I could not sleep properly I was so nervous."

At Jan de Klerk Ho ërskool in Krugersdorp pupils cheered and hugged each other on receiving their final results.

Ndzalamo Masana, 17, of Kagiso, was the top pupil. He excelled in maths, obtaining 88 percent.

"I was inspired by Ranti Mothapo, the first black South African to be accepted to the Actuarial Society of South Africa.

"Like him I want to complete my degree in record time," said Masana.