Thumbs up for Protec matrics

Protec Tongaat matrics were abuzz with excitement and cheers, as they achieved a 100% pass rate, proving that one does not need money to be an achiever.

Out of the six top achieving matrics, the only girl was the highest achiever, boasting eight distinctions.

“I decided to take eight subjects, because I figured that working hard at school will pay off and prepare me for the workload at university,” said the bubbly Nozipho Mzobi, who attended Sacred Heart Secondary School in Verulam.

The Ndwedwe resident has already been recognised for her hard work and fantastic achievement, as she was awarded the Top Achiever Against Adversity prize at a special award ceremony held at the ICC.

“It was so cool to be amongst all of these important people,” she said.

The Ndwedwe resident, Mzobi will be moving to Johannesburg soon to study actuarial sciences at Wits.

“Mathematics has always been my favourite, because I love numbers. In fact, I get really offended when people complain about maths.”

Another maths genius is Kaylin Naidoo, who achieved seven distinctions, making Tongaat Secondary proud.

“I love how fast paced mathematics is and that one can find an instant solution,” he said.

Thanks to a Nedbank bursary, he will study chemical engineering at UKZN this year.

A special story is that of Ruwaal Samraj from Shakaskraal Secondary, who despite growing up communicating with his parents in sign language, as they are both deaf, was dedicated and hardworking enough to achieve five distinctions and received an award at the ICC for coming fifth overall in the Ilembe District.

He will be fulfilling his dream of studying civil engineering at UKZN thanks to an IDC bursary.

“My favourite subject has always been engineering and graphic design and I love the idea of designing and building structures,” he said.

Mnelisi Msomi from Verulam Secondary was thrilled with his six distinctions and cannot wait to study mechanical engineering at Wits this year, thanks to his Sasol bursary.

“Protec has been so good for him. He was more focused and his attitude towards his school work changed. I don’t think he could have performed without Protec,” said Msomi’s father, Nhlanhla Msomi.

Fairbreeze Secondary are very proud of Phumlani Nzimande, who achieved five distinctions and would love to study engineering this year, which he has been accepted for already at UKZN, but he is hoping to find a sponsor to help him make his dream come true.

Nkosikhona Mkhize is the Nondenisa Secondary star, as he achieved four distinctions and thanks to Tongaat Hulett, he is going to study chemical engineering, which he has always been fascinated by.

“I just love chemicals and seeing how they react and what can be done with them,” he said.

The matrics went on a four day tertiary preparedness camp, which aims at equipping the students with the necessary skills to integrate successfully into tertiary life.

All of these matrics agree that without Protec, they would not have come this far and they wanted to extend a special thank you to the Protec Tongaat manager, Marion Takis, who has been such a positive influence on them, both academically and in their private lives.