A beaming matriculant from Nompumelelo township in Beacon Bay, who lost two friends in the Enyobeni tavern tragedy, dedicated his stellar performance, boasting seven distinctions, to the victims.
Ayakha Mxathulo, 18, originally from Flagstaff, who had tutored two Sakhikamva High School pupils, plans to pursue a teaching degree and has been offered a slot by the University of Johannesburg.
The teen said he was motivated by an accountant who visited his primary school, Mangquzu JSS, in 2018.
“I want to change the lives of people because mine was changed in that moment,” Mxathulo said.
He said the tragic deaths of his close schoolmates Sivenathi Ngqoza and Esinako Sanarhana had affected him.
“It happened to be two of the learners I was tutoring and one of them on the day, actually thanked me for helping her improve her grades. She was so proud of me.
“That sparked the saying that life is too short, and I decided that if they are not here, let me make them proud by getting these distinctions. They were always cheering me on that I will get the distinctions and study overseas and I would laugh at that. We all started grade 9 together.”
Mxathulo said since joining the school in 2019 he had scooped awards as a top achiever.
“Where you come from doesn’t define where you go in life..
“Helping others is helping yourself. I’m choosing to do the bachelor of education degree so that I plough back the distinctions I got and brighten futures in the same way mine was shaped.”
Having no water in the area for weeks and load-shedding were some of the hindrances that faced Mxathulo as well as thousands of other matric pupils and affected teaching time, but he said he had beaten the odds by using a timetable to manage his studying time.
“I sacrificed myself for the year. I only stopped studying when I slept. I saw the willingness of the teachers and decided to not give up."
He was lifted on the shoulders by excited teachers and residents and carried to the school assembly on Friday where he motivated the 2023 grade 12 cohorts to take their studies seriously from day one.
“Grade 12 is a revision of what you studied in grade 10 and 11. When you struggle with a subject, approach a learner who understands it, and your teachers and ask for help.
“There is no way of obtaining distinctions without opening your books. If you work hard and smart you will be successful; respect is the foundation. Respect your teachers.”
School principal Lucky Macozoma said Mxathulo had lifted the school’s name to great heights.
“The area we are in is looked at as a place that cannot produce something good and we have produced a child who performed excellently. The group took us from 54% to a 60% pass rate despite the trauma of the Enyobeni tragedy.
“We tried our best. It’s the dedication that we got from teachers, motivational talks and a partnership with Merrifield High School that contributed to the achievement of the school. At times they would be crying but we told them to dedicate their achievements to their late classmates,” he said.
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