Ndumo in the uMkhanyakude district in the northernmost part of KwaZulu-Natal, which borders Mozambique, is usually known for its 10,000-hectare game reserve, poverty and under-resourced community.
But last week, its five-year-old Mandla Mthethwa School of Excellence — built in partnership with the private sector and the provincial education department to improve the quality of lives of the community — proudly celebrated producing the province’s top matriculant and a national quintile one achiever.
Olwethu Khumalo, 18, who comes from Newcastle and enrolled at the boarding school in 2020, bagged seven distinctions in the national senior certificate examination as one of the school’s second cohort of matrics.
The youngster, who was lauded at the national prize-giving event hosted by education minister Angie Motshekga in Tshwane on Thursday and a provincial event in Durban on Friday, is still overwhelmed by the generous prize money which comes with the awards.
During the awards ceremony at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli convention centre Khumalo scooped a string of bursaries including the Sasol, South African Institute of Charted Accountants and Absa bank awards.
It shows that if you work hard you will be recognised.
— Matric top achiever Olwethu Khumalo
He said when he received a call informing him about his results last Sunday, he couldn’t believe the news and had to hand the phone to his parents to verify it.
“Thursday’s experience is something I will never forget. It shows that if you work hard you will be recognised,” said Khumalo.
An avid soccer player, Khumalo said the matric year had forced him to temporarily hang up his soccer boots o focus on his studies.
“The opportunity to do matric is barely a year. It’s in fact nine months and then exams. Grab it with both hands,” said Khumalo.
He plans to study actuarial science at the University of Cape Town, a career choice inspired by his love for mathematics and accounting.
“I love numbers more than notes. It’s going to be a long journey of studying, but I am prepared. I would like to focus on the risk and business,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo’s mother, Nomvula Mbatha-Khumalo, said a friend recommended that her son attend the school based on his academic record.
“Through the school my son has grown to be a humble person. The respect that permeates the corridors of the school is second to none. I have never seen politeness being personified in that manner,” she said.
Her son’s schooling was not without challenges as his father, who had been instrumental in paying his boarding school fees, was retrenched. Last year, however, the matriculant was awarded an Investec bursary.
His achievement is a reflection of uMkhanyakude, which clinched the accolade for the top performing district in the province with an impressive 90% pass rate, and fourth nationally.
The district's director Thanduyise Motha was jubilant.
“We are very proud of this young man. His achievement shows that rural areas are also equally capable. As a district we are equally proud of the quantity as well as the quality of passes,” said Motha.
He said the district was also shedding its reputation of being a rural backwater.
Proud schoolteacher Fanozi Mpungose said they were thrilled Khumalo had thrust the school into the spotlight.
“We wish him all the success and we hope that come next year the school will repeat the feat,” said Mpungose.
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