"King Mbilwi still reigns supreme," the MEC for Education said when applauding Mbilwi Secondary School for their outstanding matric results and their proficiency in maths, allowing them to be part of Club 100.

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi congratulated Mr Ramugondo, principal of Mbilwi, at the official announcement of the results on December 28 at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane.

He did warn that the competition was going to be fierce in 2008. "On September 28 at the grand opening of the R22 million new Thengwe High School, the principal, Mr Nemadzivhadi, declared publicly that Thengwe is ready to unseat Mbilwi," Motsoaledi said.

Whether this will materialise remains to be seen. Mbilwi is the only school in the province and the only rural school that qualifies to belong to Club 100. Club 100 was launched by the Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, and the Deputy-President, Phumzile Mlambo-Nucka, in February 2007. A school may belong to Club 100 if the school is able to produce 100 Grade 12 learners who pass mathematics on higher grade.

Early in 2007, at the occasion of the presentation of an administration block and laboratories built by Anglo Platinum at Mbilwi, Ramugondo told the MEC that Mbilwi would be in Club 100 after the matric results. "How was I to believe him when last year Mbliwi dropped to 91 % exemptions?" asked Motsoaledi.

Mbilwi did the MEC proud since 117 of their 142 learners passed maths on higher grade. There were 32 A’s, 12 B’s, 18 C’s and 29 D’s and 26 E’s. Mr Schutte, principal of Pietersburg High School, was also congratulated for making Club 50. Thengwe had 49 learners who passed maths on higher grade and missed club 50 by one learner.

Umalusi, the council for Quality Assessment in General and Further Education and Training, found that mathematics was still a problem at schools. The MEC said that the country is "in big, big trouble" concerning mathematics and science. "We are experiencing a chronic shortage of doctors, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, and IT specialists. What is even worse, we are also experiencing a debilitating shortage of maths and science teachers," Motsoaledi said. He referred to a number of 1600 vacancies for maths and 1300 vacancies for science teachers.

Mbilwi produced three learners who obtained full marks for both mathematics and physical science. They are Phumudzo Livhuwani Takalani, Rendani Mbuvha and Tshimangadzo Rakhudu. Five of the 13 learners in Limpopo who obtained full marks for maths are from Mbilwi. The other two Mbilwi maths stars are Andisani Masindi and Zwivhuya Tshitovha.

Mbilwi had seven learners in the top 30 academic achievers and four in the top eight. Phumudzo took position three in the province with an aggregate of 2170 and six distinctions. Rendani was fourth with a 2167 aggregate. Phumudzo and Rendani also shared the biology prize with full marks for both. Margaret Aluwani Mauda and Tshimangadzo Rakhudu were seventh and eighth with 2119 and 2111 respectively. Mbilwi’s Dakalo Mufamadi and Anasticia Rendani were also under the top 30.

Concerning maths and science, Motsoaledi said that Limpopo has a dream that "Li do da duvha! … that one day, in the very near future, when South Africans want to understand anything about maths and science, they will have to come to Limpopo." To this end, a special directorate on maths, science and technology had been established in 2007. Motsoaledi reported that three state-of-the-art schools with all science and biology facilities had been completed (Thengwe, Moreko and Fetakgomo) "We have issued tenders for 19 more schools of the same calibre…We will give you more money, just keep on equipping our schools!" Motsoaledi said.