Hoërskool Johan Jurgens’ top Class of 2025 achievers were celebrated at the first assembly of the new academic year.

Tyra Singh, Azania Kolobe and Uluthando Gunqua were the top achievers, and the school attained a 98% pass rate, with 40 distinctions.

Speaking to the Springs Advertiser, Singh, Kolobe and Gunqua are excited for the future as they venture into higher learning.

Singh, with five distinctions, said she could not immediately access her results at midnight, which caused her stress and that she told her mother the results were not out.

“At the end, I was wondering if I passed or not, and if I did, how well I did, which made me question myself a lot,” said Singh.

When she saw her distinctions, Singh said she was proud, describing the moment as bittersweet because she did not get a distinction in physical science.

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She will study chemical engineering at the University of Pretoria to study, and thanked the school for supporting her and the entire grade.

Gunqua and Kolobe each attained four distinctions. Gunqua said he was especially proud of his maths distinction, as he was the only learner in the school to achieve one.

“When 2025 started, I assumed the year would be easy, but as the terms went on, the pressure intensified, which forced me to pull up my socks and work hard. Procrastination and exhaustion were some challenges I faced, but I was able to conquer them, and my results say it all,” he said.

Gunqua added that matric taught him the value of hard work in achieving goals, a lesson he will carry forward. He will study at Wits University, pursuing actuarial sciences or computer sciences.

Kolobe, from Kwa–Thema, said matric was one of her most difficult years because of the pressure and financial struggles at home. She said her father lost his job in 2024, which made the costs harder to bear.

“People don’t realise that in matric, parents spend a lot on extra classes if teachers can’t provide them, money to come to school every weekend, and the university applications, as well,” she said.

She added that losing her social grant at the beginning of the year made her financial battle harder, but thanked her mother, who made it possible for her to continue.

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Kolobe said her plans for the future are to study accounting sciences and venture into politics.