Takunda Muchweni, a learner from Jan Kriel School in Kuils River is being celebrated and acknowledged as one of the top learner’s in the country for the class of 2025.
Hours before the announcement of the official release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, some of the country’s top achievers from the matric class of 2025 have shared their stories of resilience, which helped pave the way for their success in matric this past year.
ALSO READ | Simesihle Khuzwayo is the KZN matric top achiever for 2025
This comes as the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, celebrated the country’s 42 top achievers from the Matric Class of 2025 during her annual breakfast event in Fairlands, Johannesburg, on Monday morning.
The event showcased the extraordinary stories of 42 high achievers who have surmounted various challenges on their path to success.
Among them is Takunda, a standout learner from the Western Cape. Takunda’s story is testament to the strength of the human spirit, as she navigated her educational journey while overcoming significant obstacles due to her disability, including a recent hospital stay.
Her experience embodies the challenges faced by students across the country, proving that with dedication and hard work, one can rise above adversity.
Her mother, Tamari Muchweni, speaking on the challenges her 18-year-old daughter had to face, revealed that resilience paved the way for Takunda’s academic achievements.
“It is a proud moment for us as a family. We are really beyond excited, but more importantly, we are also grateful that we could be here today.”
“This is a dream we never thought could be achieved due to our child’s disability, which affects her health and day-to-day function,” she said.
During Takunda’s hospital stay ahead of her exams, Tamari revealed that the family’s visit included lots of studying while she was recovering in the hospital. The 18-year-old will study Industrial Psychology.
“There were nights she could not sleep because she was in pain. However, throughout that, she was studying.”
ALSO READ | Matric learners adviced to celebrate pens down responsible
“She was communicating with her teachers. We had to bring her books so she could study while in the hospital,” the mother said.
“I am very proud of myself because this journey was quite difficult. However, I could not have done it without the help of my parents,” Takunda stated.
