Seventeen-year-old Owami Mhlaba from Groutville High is celebrating eight distinctions and a future in law after a year of relentless dedication.

Mhlaba credited discipline and clear priorities as the key ingredients to her success.

Groutville High also posted an impressive overall performance, achieving a 98.3% pass rate for the Class of 2025.

Mhlaba described matric as demanding and requiring total dedication.

“Matric is like a toxic and very jealous partner. It requires you to focus on it alone, with nothing else and that is what I did. When I woke up in the middle of the night, instead of browsing my phone, I would be studying. You have got to live and breathe your studies, and I am glad it worked for me,” she said.

She added that consistency and making sacrifices throughout the year helped her stay focused, especially during periods when her motivation dipped.

Mhlaba will further her studies at the University of Pretoria, where she plans to pursue a law degree. She hopes to use her qualification to make a meaningful contribution to society.

She expressed gratitude to her teachers, family, and friends for their unwavering support and encouragement, saying their belief in her gave her the strength to keep pushing.

Mhlaba encouraged the Class of 2026 to take their studies seriously and remain focused throughout the year.

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