Matamela Netshikulwe, a brilliant 17-year-old pupil from Marude Secondary School in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, has become a living example that one´s background cannot be used as yardstick to measure one´s successes, but that one can still achieve one´s set goals through hard work.

Netshikulwe, of Mvudi Park at Muledane outside Thohoyandou, surprised everyone when she, in front of thousands of people at Bungeni Stadium in October last year, during an education indaba, promised MEC Dickson Masemola that she would achieve distinctions in all her subjects. She has lived up to her promise. She caused quite a stir when the results were announced and she had obtained As in all seven her subjects in last year’s examinations.

Born to an unemployed single mother, Netshikulwe said she knew from the onset that she had to set herself targets in life in order to achieve her goals. ”When I said I would get As, I knew that the best things in life did not come cheaply. I made sure that I prepared and worked very hard. I knew that I was going to be one of the best students in the country and I did exactly that." She said life had not been a bed of roses for her as her mother is unemployed, but this did not distract her from her school work. “I knew I had to work hard as no one would come and change the situation at my home."

She said she was very grateful to her mother who, against all odds, managed to raise her, and the many parents of her friends who took her under their wings and assisted her, just like their own child. “I would not have achieved this much if it were not for the generosity of these people. It is very hard to work without resources and on an empty stomach and I lack words suitable enough to thank these parents. I am indebted to them because they contributed to my success,“ she said. She has been admitted for an actuaral science degree at the University of Cape Town and she is very positive that she will get a bursary as she has good marks.

Ms Johanna Netshikulwe, her mother, said it was only through the grace of God that she managed to raise her two children. “I am not working and I depend on handouts. Life has not been easy and I have only God to thank for this wonderful gift. He knows my situation, and I am very humbled," she said.