District, Circuit, Schools management with top achievers, Kamogelo Mashumu from Seagotle Secondary School and Maphefo Mathaba from Maalobane High School and municipal officials.
Maruleng municipal area’s top achievers in the matric class of 2024 received cash prize money, ipads, laptops, trophies and certificates, courtesy of the visionary mayor Tsheko Musolwa and the business community.
The prestigious 2024 Maruleng Matric Awards ceremony was held at the Radisson Safari Hotel in Hoedspruit last Thursday.
Crowned Maruleng’s joint overall best performers for 2024, Kamogelo Mashumu from Seagotle Secondary School and Maphefo Mathaba from Maalobane High School each received R20 000 in cash, trophy, ipad and certicate.
The runners-up, Future Morithi Seotla from Rakgolowane High and Cilliers Coetzer from Lowveld Academy received R15 000 each plus certicate.
Third placed Modupi Mamabolo received R10 000 cash prize plus certificate.
Other categories in which awards were received are Best Performing Circuit (Makhutswe), Best Performing Principal (M P Mawala, Maahlamele Secondary), Top Bachelors Produced School (Lepono), Most Improved School (Maahlamele), Best Big Enrolled School (Ramatau), Best Subject Teachers in all the subjects,Best Progressed Learner who produced Bachelor pass (arabo Lewele from Maahlamele), Most Consistent School (Maahlamele), Best Performing District (Mopani West).
The Mayor, Councillor Musolwa said that the ceremony was aimed at recognizing and awarding learners, teachers, principals, circuit managers and the district for exceeding all expectations with exceptional academic achievements.
He said that learners have demonstrated the hunger to succeed even if odds are against them. “Through dedication, countless late nights, and weekend classes, the 2024 learners of Maruleng have overcome challenges to achieve a remarkable pass rate,” said Musolwa.
To ensure continued progress, he said that the Maruleng Local Municipality remains committed to supporting teaching and learning within our area.
The municipality under the guidance of Mayor Musolwa, adopted several schools providing them with the necessary resources and support. “It is encouraging that we can see the output when these schools are now producing results. We have in the past celebrated with Calais High School, an example of what motivation and support can produce. With the pass rate of 32.5% in 2022 and earning the award in last year’s awards as the most improves at 92.9%, We are delighted to see them at 100% this time around. Similarly, Lepono High School and Ngwana Makhutswe High School have achieved a 100% pass rate, showcasing the collective effort and commitment of learners, educators, and the broader community,” said Musolwa
He added that the awards are also designed to serve as motivation and create healthy competition between the two circuits in the municipality to continue improving our results
“The improved road infrastructure in our schools is one of the benefit factors in our municipality. We made a commitment that no learner must miss school due to rain or an unbearable road during rainy seasons.
Although not non-core function the municipality has recognized the education of our young people as a poverty reduction tool. Education is the key solution to the challenges facing our communities,” he said.
Maruleng Local Municipality Matric Learners has for a long time been considered as one of the poorest performing which has struggled to rise from the bottom in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results. “This council has for the past two years made an effort alongside school principals and SGBs to turn things around
In partnership with the DHET we have succeeded in creating two TVET Campuses for Maake and Mopani East TVET colleges. Maake campus started operating in 2023 at Rankagele School and the Mopani will open its doors this year in Hoedspruit. This is going to provide an opportunity to reskill and equip our learners with skills to allow them to face challenges going in to adulthood,” he explained.
Several learners who were honored at the event shared their excitement, noting that the awards would significantly boost their morale and confidence as they embark on new academic and professional journeys.
The Mayor of Maruleng Local Municipality, Councillor Tsheko Musolwa sharing a light moment during 2024 Maruleng Matric Awards ceremony held at the Radisson Safari Hotel in Hoedspruit last Thursday.
Some of the learners who received the awards during the event.