Andani Phaswana (17), a matric pupil at the Comprehensive Trinity Academy at Phadzima in the Nzhelele area, obtained five distinctions in the final exams.

He achieved 96% in life sciences, 93% in physical science and mathematics, 89% in life orientation and 86% in English. In his other subjects, he did not do badly either, with 79% for Agricultural Sciences and 78% for Tshivenda. Andani ascribes his success to hard work, passion and dedication. “I had to burn the candle at both ends to achieve this,” says an exuberant Andani.

This young achiever says that he was greatly motivated by people around him. All those people had expectations that Andani would perform well and become a torch bearer for his village. “Once you have taken position one, you must know that you have got to maintain it,” he enthuses. “Friends and relatives expected my name to appear among the top achievers in the province or even at national level. But I am satisfied with what I managed to achieve.”

He adds that learning does not end in using the prescribed books only, because doing that might somehow limit the scope of a student's understanding and impinge on the quality of his work. “I understand that every single text book lacks some content in one aspect or another,” he speaks. “So I had to use lots of study guides and extra books.”

Mr Rocky Thomas, principal at Comprehensive Trinity Academy, said Andani was a hard worker but also attributed the commitment and dedication of the teachers to Andani's achievement.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, congratulated all matric students who had excelled. “The world is your oyster,” she said. “Go out there and realise your dreams. This country needs you. To those who did not perform as expected, do not lose heart. We all learn from trial and error.”

According to the Department of Education, Limpopo achieved 66.9% in 2012, a quite noticeable improvement from 63.9% of 2011.

Andani is going to study actuarial science at the University of Cape Town.