A learner from TuksSport High School is making waves both academically and culturally after becoming the school’s first-ever participant in the ATKV Redenaars competition.

Deputy head boy Kgethego Matlou impressed teachers and judges alike with his public speaking skills, despite only beginning to speak Afrikaans a few years ago.

School principal Mariet Lemmer said the school was immensely proud of Matlou’s achievements and leadership.

“While it is true that we are a High Performance Sport School, I would also like to add that his academic average last term was 93%,” said Lemmer.

“He takes leadership at the school very seriously in his role as deputy head boy and is truly an exceptional young man.”

According to Lemmer, Matlou has also applied to study medicine at the University of Pretoria and they all believe that he will achieve great success in this field.

Lemmer, who took over as principal almost a year ago from former principal Hettie de Villiers, said she was struck by the calibre of learners at the school.

“I was absolutely amazed when I joined TuksSport High School to see how these athletes are not only talented high-performance sportsmen and sportswomen, but also highly driven academically.”

Founded in 2002, TuksSport High School focuses primarily on developing high-performance athletes, with cultural activities traditionally not forming part of the school’s daily programme.

However, that changed when Matlou joined the school in 2025 and approached his Afrikaans teacher, Carisa Fourie, about participating in the ATKV Redenaars competition.

Although the registration deadline had already passed at the time, Fourie promised to make it possible the following year.

“In short, Matlou is the reason why TuksSport High School participated in the ATKV Redenaars competition for the very first time in the school’s 24-year history,” said Lemmer.

She described his achievement as particularly remarkable because he wrote and practised his speech independently with minimal guidance.

“As he described in his speech, he is ‘just a boy’tjie from Nylstroom’, yet he stood proudly among learners from schools such as Waterkloof, Menlopark and Affies – schools that often have access to professional coaching and speech-writing support.”

Lemmer said Matlou’s determination and initiative left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

“This moment will be remembered as a highlight in the history of TuksSport High School.”

Matlou’s journey in public speaking began in Grade 9 at Hoërskool Nylstroom, where he initially struggled with confidence.

Through consistent practice and perseverance, he developed his Afrikaans vocabulary, grammar, and confidence in public speaking.

His first speech, which he described as ‘deurmekaar’ (chaotic), eventually led him to the semi-final round in Limpopo, where he placed third and narrowly missed qualification for the final.

Despite setbacks, including missing a previous competition due to his transition to a sports school and delayed registration information, he continued pursuing his passion.

Lemmer said his success proves that language barriers can be overcome through discipline and hard work.

“His journey demonstrates that with discipline, perseverance, and support, learners can overcome language barriers and achieve excellence.”

For his latest speech, Matlou chose the theme of ‘risk’, reflecting on his decision to leave a familiar environment and join TuksSport High School.

“At his previous school, he excelled academically, in sport, and culturally. Moving to a new environment presented uncertainty, but he embraced the challenge,” said Lemmer.

According to Lemmer, Matlou’s message is that nothing is impossible when one applies discipline and determination.

The school hopes his achievement will inspire other learners to participate in future cultural activities and challenge themselves beyond sport.

“At TuksSport High School, we aim to create opportunities that equip learners with confidence, communication skills, and experiences beyond sport,” she added.

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