Meet Sedutla Mamaregane (13), Grade 7 learner at Mmbara Primary School near Sibasa.

The brilliant young learner is the toast of her school and she has successfully represented them, both provincially and nationally. She is a keen debater, leader and motivator.

She was one of the two Limpopo learners who represented the province in Parliament in Cape Town for observation purposes. The trip was financed by the legislature.

She says the visit to Parliament is one of the highlights of her life. "Although I am still young, I believe that I have achieved something very great, more than what I have expected. It was a very interesting thing to observe Parliament in session, things that most community members see on TV and in newspapers."

She said she was delighted to meet the Deputy-President of the country, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, personally. "It was a lifetime opportunity to meet high-profile figures like her. Her strength gave me courage that I must strive to be like her when I grow up."

She said she had learnt a lot of things during the visit to Parliament. "I have learnt that it is good to prepare yourself whenever you present something to the people. What moved me most is the importance of time management. They can easily stop you if you are wasting the time of the legislature."

School principal Koos Howell says he was very proud of Sedutla because she was a symbol of excellence in his school. "She is a genius, a natural leader and extraordinary. She will definitely become a leader when she grows up. Everyone loves and respects her in our school. We are very proud of her and we thank God for giving us such a wonderful gift."