Vulumzi Senior Secondary, one of the best-performing schools in Motherwell, with a 98.3% matric pass rate for 2024, was celebrated for its outstanding achievement at the Raymond Mhlaba Sports Centre on Friday.
The event was hosted by nonprofit organisation Gift of the Givers, which organised gifts for each of the top 10 pupils, to the applause and cheers of their younger peers and various sponsors and stakeholders including Enviroserv and the ward councillor.
Vulumzi came second behind Soqhayisa High School, which achieved 98.9%, but it is the first time that the former made into the elusive 90% club.
Gift of the Givers project manager Ali Sablay said the organisation had been working with Motherwell schools for years.
“What is being celebrated here today stems back to the point some time ago when the principals of all the schools in this area met to say too many of our children are failing matric or not making it that far, and ending up jobless and involved in gangsterism.
“How can we change the narrative for the better?
“They resolved to launch an initiative to help pupils realise their talents, either in academics or sport.
“Often the pupils had no-one at home to motivate them or help them with their homework.
“So after-hours classes were organised and Gift of the Givers provided the pupils involved with a hot meal.”
He said when Gift of the Givers heard about Vulumzi’s success with its 2024 matric results, he and his team knew they had to find a way to celebrate the achievement.
“So with the help of a sponsor, we managed to get together gifts to the value of R3,000 each, to be presented to each of the top matrics.
“Each gift includes a watch and a vanity bag.”
He said the hope was the culture of excellence would spread throughout the township, and Gift of the Givers was planning a major sports competition to keep the ball rolling.
“The Motherwell Cup will see all the schools in this area compete against each other, with a soccer challenge for the boys and netball for the girls, and the final will be held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.”
EnviroServ communications liaison officer Zingisa Mabangula said when the waste management company started sponsoring Vulumzi, its matric pass rate was just 60%, so it was delighted at the school’s progress to 86.6% in 2023 and 98.3% in 2024.
“EnviroServ believes in the power of education to change lives.
“Our involvement began with crucial infrastructure improvements, including building and renovating ablution facilities.
“The hard work and dedication of the educators, parents and pupils have paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of this transformation.”
Vulumzi principal Mzimkhulu Fina said he was thrilled with the school’s achievement and the trajectory it was on.
“It took dedication, discipline and lots of extra classes.
“This was a collaborative success.
“We must pay attention as well to grade 8 because that is when the learners start building to matric.
“But the aim for next year’s matric pass is 100%.”
One of school’s top 2024 matrics, Sinqogele Ngcobo, who got three distinctions, said he struggled at school in Durban when he was younger but “got the hang of school” after he moved to Gqeberha and enrolled at Vulumzi in 2021.
He said he was set to start a BCom at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2025.
“I leave today, so I am anxious but excited too,” he said.
Ward 59 councillor Bulelani Matenjwa said he was proud of Vulumzi.
“To the children, I want to say, ‘the economy needs you’.”
The Herald
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