After a tough year of being in matric during a pandemic and losing one of the most influential people on her academic journey, Ilitha Makhathangana, a former matric learner at Vusisizwe Secondary School, Zwelethemba completed her final year of high school with impressive results.
The young lady who is on her way to the University of Pretoria to study Law, boasts a 79,14% average.
Ilitha attributes her success to her family and friends.
“I must credit my mom as she supported me throughout the year. Adriaan Steyn, who assisted at the school, and my geography teacher Nontombi Msi both supported me emotionally and financially and lastly my close friend Unathi Mfino.”
Asked who her biggest inspiration was, she mentioned her principal Reggie Ceasar, who recently passed away. “He always encouraged us to study hard and with all the chaos happening in the country (the looting and the pandemic) he would always tell us to stay focused. He was a great teacher and would bring light to the classroom.”
Ilitha related how lockdown affected her studying. “In 2020 we hardly had classes, so in 2021 it was very difficult for us to manage especially with maths. We had to do two years’ work in a very short period – really a lot to deal with.”
