Success comes after hard work ... These were the remarks by Mukhethwa Jeofrey Murodvha, who was Limpopo's overall best Grade 12 pupil, according to the 2011 matric results. Nationally he was in the top ten.

Murodovha, who hails from Dzanani township, formerly known as Makhado-Biaba in the Makhado Municipal area, was a pupil at Mbilwi High. He obtained 100% in physical science, 99% in mathematics, 93% in life sciences, 92% in geography, 96% in life orientation, 88% in Tshivenda (home language), 92% in English (first additional language) and 84% in maths paper 3.

Asked about the secret behind his outstanding performance, Murodovha said that time management, discipline and hard work were the most important things that had made him achieve good results. He said that his success was due to the grace of God.

He added that, had it not been for the support he got from both the teachers and his parents, he could have not made it. Murodovha expressed special appreciation toward Rabali's El-Shaddai Christian Centre for the support.

He has just jetted off to Cape Town where he wants to study Actuarial Science at the University of Cape Town. He listed some of the challenges he came across during the course of the year. "It was not that easy. Success comes after hard work," he said.

Murodovha, however, encouraged other pupils who had not made it to work very hard and not give up. "Your knock-down is not your knockout," he added.

He said that they should just study more than play. "They must just cut the time of going out to parties. Watching TV also does not help, especially watching programmes that are not educational," advised the soft-spoken Murodovha.

Mbilwi High school is still the best school in the province, having produced 256 pupils with university exemption. Murodovha said that he wanted to open an orphanage centre back home when he completed his degree. "I want to assist the disadvantaged. I was not given this grace of excelling to shine, but to assist other people who need help."

Asked if he had already got a bursary, Murodovha said that there were many companies that wanted to finance his studies and he was expected to choose one.