Two of the top achievers at St Benedict's College in Bedfordview, Ekurhuleni credited their mothers for the five distinctions they both obtained in the 2021 IEB matric exams.
Tadiwanashe Kabaira, 17, and Ntakaso Mbuli, 18, heaped praises on their parents and teachers for the role they played in helping them achieve outstanding marks.
St Benedict's managed to retain their 100% matric pass rate.
Tadiwanashe scored distinctions in mathematics, physical sciences, accounting, information technology (IT) and life orientation. His mark is 95% in IT.
Nkataso, on the other hand, got distinctions in isiZulu, dramatic arts, mathematical literacy, business studies and life orientation (LO). The latter and mathematical literacy gave him the highest mark of 86% each.
Tadiwanashe, who lives in Edenvale with his father who is an accounting consultant, and unemployed mother, said he is excited about his stellar performance.
“I am overjoyed. I put in the work. I am happy with what I achieved,” said Tadiwanashe.
He said his mother was happy about the distinctions he achieved.
“She [mother] hugged and congratulated me. She was always there for me during the year [matric]. She would tell me that everything will be okay. She even encouraged me to take breaks from my studies and go outside to get a bit of fresh air and take a walk.”
He said his parents and teachers went out of their way to make sure he had a smooth-sailing matric year.
“My family helped me with projects. I remember there was a physics [physical sciences] project I had and my task was to build a generator. My parents helped me to get wires, batteries. magnets and other components that I needed. I got 100% for the project. My family was so happy for me,” said Tadiwanashe.
“My teachers were always available on the phone whenever I needed to ask them for help. They were also available to assist us after school when we had questions on concepts we did not understand.”
Tadiwanashe wants to study computer engineering at the University of Pretoria.
Similarly, Nkataso was over the moon for his distinctions: “I am ecstatic and overjoyed. I am just a bit shook. I got my results at 11.30pm [on Tuesday night]. I expected to do well but not the manner in which I performed.”
Ntakaso, who lives in Alberton with his parents, said his mother, Terry Mbuli, 48, was his pillar of strength during matric.
“I owe my success to my mother. She has been my driving force. On certain nights I would study for longer hours till around 3am and my mother would come and sit with me while I am doing my work, and bring me food. She would even drive me to my extra classes.”
Nkataso will be studying fashion design at the Villioti Fashion Institute in Hyde Park, northern Johannesburg.
His mom said she was proud: “I am super proud. We [parents] have been supporting him since he was a child. He is clever and loves fashion. From a young age he always loved drawing hats.”
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