Nories on top at 2023 Matric Top Achievers Awards
The West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) hosted the 2023 Matric Top Achievers Awards and honoured matriculants and even educators from all corners of the district.
Hoërskool Noordheuwel dominated the stage at the 2023 Matric Top Achievers Awards held at the Westonaria Banquet Hall on February 2.
Not only did they walk away with the award of overall top performing school in the district but many other special awards.
The awards were aimed at celebrating those who did well in their matric year and encouraging them on their journey going forward in higher education. Furthermore, it created a platform where the role that teachers have in the success of the learners is also acknowledged.
Proceedings commenced at 13:30 and the first to speak was programme directors Pogiso Kgobokoe and Dimpho Rampora who hailed joint efforts from learners, teachers, and municipalities.
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Motivational speaker Naledi Letlhake then spoke about the importance of perseverance, guts, and determination at high school and emphasised the necessity for learners to keep their heads above water and to stand firm in their beliefs.
“When I was busy studying for my last year, I called my mother with tears in my eyes saying that university is too difficult for me. Now, I have a degree as a pharmacist because I stuck it out and never gave up,” she added.
The ceremony then continued with the top five achiever awards involving SSIP schools, non-SSIP schools, rural schools and independent schools.
The top five non-SSIP achievers were Leanne Coetzee from Hoërskool Noordheuwel, Micaela Molly du Preez from Krugersdorp High School (KHS), Dejane Sutil (Noordheuwel), Olivia Estelle Strydom (Noordheuwel) and Lanzar Romao Williams (KHS) who took the top spots. The top five SSIP achievers were Koketso Junior Malatji (SG Mafaesa Senior Secondary School in Krugersdorp), Omphemetse Ofentse Harry Mooi (Mandisa Shiceka School of Specialisation in Kagiso), Frans Chichava (Letsatsing in Merafong), Kelebogile Julia Palagangwe (AB Phokompe Secondary School in Mohlakeng) and Natasha Tadiwa Chinhengo (Mandisa Shiceka).
Top achievers among rural schools were Likhabiso Nkhapetla from Ithuteng Secondary School in Badirile, Nelson Matsose from Magaliesburg Secondary School, Matla Combined School’s Bakholwa Mthombeni and Itumeleng Rametse with Schaumburg Combined School’s Delco Cumbe taking first place.
Azaadville Muslim School then dominated the independent schools category with all the top achiever awards going to learners from the school. They were Khadija Jinwala, Zaahid Essack, Husain Abba, Qaylah Mahomed and Mohammed Hammersley in the number one spot.
The best-performing non-SSIP schools are KHS (third place), Hoërskool Monument (second place) and Hoërskool Noordheuwel (first place). The best-performing SSIP schools on the West Rand are Mosupatsela Secondary School in Krugersdorp (third place), Madiba Secondary School in Kagiso (second place) and Phahama Secondary School in Mohlakeng (first place).
Ihuteng Secondary School was the best-performing rural school followed by Magaliesburg State School and Matla Combined. Azaadville Muslim School received the best-performing independent school award with Kingswood Academy from Krugersdorp in second and Aster Academy from Carletonville in third.
The overall top learner in the district is Natasha Tadiwa Chinhengo from Mandisa Shiceka School of Specialisation in Kagiso. She is also 46th in the province.
Special District Awards:
Top performing School in Mathematics:
• SSIP schools – Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School
• Non-SSIP schools – Hoërskool Noordheuwel
• Rural schools – Schaumburg Combined School
• Independent Schools – Aster Academy
Top performing School in Physical Science:
• SSIP schools – Mandisa Shiceka Secondary School
• Non-SSIP schools – Hoërskool Noordheuwel
• Rural schools – Matla Combined School
• Independent Schools – Aster Academy
Most improved rural school:
• Magaliesburg Secondary School
Most improved SSIP school:
• Fochville Secondary
Most improved non-SSIP school:
• Carleton Jones High School
Most improved independent school:
• Randview College
100% achieving schools:
• Ahmed Timol Secondary
• Aster Academy
• Azaadville Muslim School
• Carleton Jones High School
• Kingswood Academy
Top 10 schools achieving bachelors:
• Hoërskool Bekker – 93 learners
• KHS – 292 learners
• Hoërskool Riebeeckrand – 162
• Letsatsing Secondary School – 158 learners
• Hoërskool Fochville – 116 learners
• Kingswood Academy – 23 learners
• Hoërskool Monument – 253 learners
• Azaadville Mulsim School – 25 learners
• Hoërskool Noordheuwel – 368 learners
• Aster Academy – six learners
Award for first-time Grade 12s:
• Aster Academy
Schools appearing in the top 100 schools in the province:
• Hoërskool Noordheuwel took fifth place with 473 distinctions
• Hoërskool Monument took 21st place with 252 distinctions
• KHS took 25th place with 169 distinctions
FQE special Award:
• Zulu Madiba from Madiba
School achieving 100% pass rate for five consecutive years:
• Azaadville Muslim School
Overall top performing school in the district:
• Hoërskool Noordheuwel
