WATCH: Schools shine at district awards
“Where seeds of success are planted, learners will ultimately reap the fruits.”
Dressed to the nines, principals, educators and matriculants gathered at Hoërskool Brandwag on February 13 to celebrate a year of academic excellence.
Hosted by the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) Ekurhuleni North District office, the annual Excellence Awards is aimed at awarding schools that contributed to the district’s overall rise of the 2025 matric pass rate from 86.02% to 87.43%.
District director Makgena Makola said that the afternoon’s events are purely due to the efforts, determination and courage that the class of 2025 exemplified during the last year of their high school careers.
“Life is like going on a hike; the views are ever changing, however, the destination remains the same,” he said.
“Throughout their matric year, learners could always see the peak of the mountain that they were marching towards. We are here to celebrate not only their summit but the individuals and institutions that guided them along their journey.”
Boasting about the district’s results, Makola said that 13 495 full time candidates from 89 centres sat for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a total of 11 799 passing the examinations.
“A total of 17 schools within the district attained a 100% pass rate, 19 schools recorded a decline, but it must be noted that it did not drop below 70%,” he said.
“Every teacher deserves a hearty round of applause, as this proves that whether it is a township or urban school, we have educators who champion our learners’ success.”
Makola took the time to give a special mention to Liverpool Secondary School, Actonville, for its unrelenting efforts to rise above, showing significant improvement during the recent academic year.
Taking the stage in his crisp Daveyton Intermediate School uniform, Zanokuhle Radebe (10) said that the class of 2025 are the role model of future generations.
“We are here to celebrate your excellence, but it is your power of determination that encourages us, those who will follow in your footsteps, to work harder, to be disciplined and to dream bigger than what we thought possible,” he said.
“Like tall trees, they show us that where we lay our roots plays a huge role in our growth.”
@benonicitytimes #Daveyton Intermediate School’s, Zanokuhle Radebe (10) took to the stage at the annual Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) Ekurhuleni North District’s Excellence Awards, held at Hoërskool Brandwag, on February 13, to thank the Class of 2025 for being role models for the generations who will follow in their footsteps. @educationgp #EKURHULENI
Hulwazi Secondary School, Daveyton, alumni, motivational speaker and author, Lunwabo Kumkani Harmony said his current success cannot only be attributed to his academic performance at school, but rather to the innate instincts of educators who recognised his potential and encouraged him.
“Because someone believed in me and gave me the opportunity to develop, I became a person of purpose,” he said.
“If you want to touch the lives of others and play a part in changing futures, see them, hear them and acknowledge their efforts.”
Best educator awards were presented to the following Benoni schools:
• Hulwazi Secondary School – civil technology.• Chief Luthuli Secondary School – economics.
• Mabuya Secondary School – Setswana.
• Ephes Mamkeli Secondary School – Sesotho.
• Liverpool Secondary School – engineering graphics and design, English history.
• Dinoto Technical School – civil technology (construction), civil technology (woodworking), mechanical technology (welding and metal work) and technical maths.
• Willowmore High School – accounting, business studies and IsiZulu.
• Hoërskool Hans Moore – Afrikaans and technical maths.
• Hoërskool Brandwag – computer applications technology, maths, physical sciences and visual arts.
• East Rand School of Art – design studies and visual arts.
• Lesiba Secondary School – agricultural sciences, IsiXhosa, Tshivenda, life orientation.
• Benoni High School – English, electrical technology (electronics), geography, life sciences, religion studies and tourism.
Best learners awards went to:
• Petit High School – accounting and English.
• Ephes Mamkeli Secondary School – life orientation.
• Wordsworth High – economics and life sciences.
• Etwatwa Secondary School – isiZulu and economics.
• Gekombineerde Skool Noorderlig – English and Afrikans.
• Unity School – IsiNdebele, religion studies and Sesotho.
• Willowmore High School – geography and IsiZulu.
• Hoërskool Hans Moore – Afrikaans, life orientation and technical maths.
• Hoërskool Brandwag – maths.
• East Rand School of Art – dance studies, dramatic arts, design, arts music and visual.
• Lesiba Secondary School – agricultural sciences and Tshivenda.
• Benoni High School – business studies, civil technology (construction), electrical technology (electronics) information technology and religion studies.
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Best independent schools
• Benoni Christian School – business studies (best learner).
• Lee Rand High School – IsiZulu (best learner).
• Acudeo College – engineering graphics and design (best educator) and dramatic arts (best learner).
• Benoni Muslim School – accounting, Afrikaans, economics, English, life orientation, life sciences, maths, mathematical literacy, physical sciences and tourism (best educators).
Accounting, Afrikaans, English, life sciences, tourism, life orientation and mathematical literacy (best learners).
Other accolades included:
• Acudeo College Crystal Park, the most improved independent school, with an increased pass rate by 14.07%.
• The most improved public schools were Gekombineerde Skool Noorderlig with an 13.32% increase, followed by Wordsworth High School with 10.21%.
• Benoni Muslim School with the highest bachelor’s passes of 93.18%.
• Highest percentage distinctions: Benoni Muslim School with 30.2% and Benoni Christian School with 15.5%.
• Benoni Muslim School was awarded the Best Independent School as well as the Top Learner from an Independent School.
• Zani Van Rensburg (Hoërskool Hans Moore), Jayden Smith (Hoërskool Brandwag) and Rohan van Schalkwyk (Hoërskool Brandwag) were among the district’s top learners.
• Independent schools boasting with 100% pass rate: Benoni Muslim School and St Francis College.
• LSEN schools with 100%: Belvedere School and Daveyton Skills School.
• Public schools with 100% pass rate, Hoërskool Brandwag and Hoërskool Hans Moore.
• Top LSEN school: Belvedere School.
• Schools with the highest percentage of bachelor passes: Benoni High School, East Rand School of Art, Hoërskool Hans Moore, Hoërskool Brandwag, Lesiba Secondary School and Willowmore High.
• Schools with the highest percentage of distinctions: Benoni High School, Hoërskool Hans Moore, Hoërskool Brandwag, Lesiba Secondary School and Willowmore High.
• Schools with the highest pass rate: East Rand School of Arts, Hoërskool Brandwag, Hoërskool Hans Moore, Lesiba Secondary School and Willowmore High School.
• East Rand School of Art came third in the top public prioritised school.
• In the category of top public schools, Hoërskool Brandwag placed first and Benoni High School third.
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