High 5 for top Ugu District matrics
Twenty six schools in the district received a 100% pass rate.
The top five learners in the Ugu District each achieved seven distinctions in the 2025 National Senior Certificate Examinations, and are celebrating their exceptional results.
They are, from one to five, Ethan Naicker (Port Shepstone Secondary), Devak Govender (Scottburgh High), Sayuri Prasheem Madanlall (Marburg Secondary), Sinethemba Dlamini (Hluzingqondo Secondary) and Inathi Kayise (Malangeni Secondary).
Ethan will head to the University of Cape Town to pursue medicine to specialise in neurology.
Sayuri will undertake actuarial science at the University of Pretoria; and Sinethemba and Inathi will both study computer science at Wits University.
Devak intends on studying actuarial science at Wits University.
Ugu placed fourth in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Ugu Department of Education’s acting director, Nkosinathi Madadi, said Ugu had achieved a goal to produce a top learner (Ethan) in the country, which aligns with the new regulations that the National Department of Education had set for them.
“We have been getting top positions in the province, but with the new rules and curriculum from the national department, we have achieved more by having a top learner nationally. “
Madadi added the department had challenges, one being floods, which disturbed learning in some schools.
However, with the support of the community, parents and unions, teaching was able to continue.
Overall, 11 800 learners sat for the exams in 2025 compared to 10 000 in 2024.
“One of our goals was to also see the special schools doing well. We achieved that with St Martin de Porres having a top learner and a 100% pass rate.
Amahle Ngidi of St Martin’s received a national award for placing second in the country for South African Sign Language.
Twenty six schools in the district received a 100% pass rate.
“What is exciting is that schools in the rural areas have improved their results. The education system has ensured that a child from a rural school does not necessarily have to attend an urban school to get a better education.”
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