![Top matric achiever, Given Malaka, his mom Mrs Thipane Malaka [left] and his former teacher [right] at the Limpopo 2024 matric award ceremony.](https://thedeafdiary.com/sitepad-data/uploads/2025/03/Given.jpg "Given")
Top matric achiever, Given Malaka, his mom Mrs Thipane Malaka [left] and his former teacher [right] at the Limpopo 2024 matric award ceremony.
The spirit of excellence instilled in the minds of deaf and blind matriculants at Setotolwane Elsen Secondary School in Mankweng, Limpopo, proves that no obstacle has power to block them from achieving their goals.
Despite the living and learning conditions that 22 matriculants were exposed to during exams, the school obtained a 100% pass rate.
In December the Sunday Times, Diary Series of Deaf People and Rapport reported the pupils are living in a derelict temporary school with almost no water, collapsing mobile classrooms with holes in the floors and ceilings, exposed electrical wires, broken toilets and missing taps.
This is after they were relocated from their previous school in 2016 because it was declared unsafe for habitation. They were provided with mobile classrooms set up on the premises of Hwiti High School on a “temporary” basis. The two schools are separated by a fence.
A month-long investigation by the Sunday Times, in collaboration with the Diary Series of Deaf People, and Rapport, revealed how pupils previously had to fetch water for drinking, bathing and flushing with buckets filled via a pipe at a nearby cemetery.
According to the principal, Ramokone Molepo, 12 matric pupils received a bachelor pass, six obtained diplomas and four received certificates.
The school is not new to national recognition. In 2022 and 2023, two matric pupils scored first position at nationals. Molepo said: “In 2022 Lethabo Maleka, a blind boy, got position one nationally. In 2023 Prince Modika got position one nationally and in 2024 Given Malaka got position two nationally.”
Prince and Given are partially sighted.
Molepo said:
Asked about her school’s secret to success, Molepo said: “I dedicate this performance to my teachers who are committed and hard working. As a school, we ensure that a teacher who is teaching a subject teaches it from grade 10. This enables him or her to know the learners’ strengths and weaknesses.
“This period also helps them to close gaps where they are. We also have regular meetings with learners to encourage them to focus as the conditions they find themselves in do not define them.
“The school governing body makes sure that when they appoint teachers who are doing hostel supervision, preference is given to those teaching grade 12 to give them more time to have contact with learners during the night and weekends.”
Given Malaka's advice to the matric class of 2025:
The Principal of Setotolwane Elsen Secondary School in Mankweng, Limpopo, Mrs Ramokone Molepo during the Limpopo 2023 matric award ceremony. Picture Supplied.
Molepo’s 2024 top achiever, Given, scored five distinctions out of seven subjects: Mathematical Literacy (90%), Life Orientation (92%), Business Studies (88%), History (80%), Tourism (85%), English (78%) and Sepedi (74%). He placed second nationally and was Limpopo's top achiever in the special schools categories.
Given said: “As I bask in the euphoria of having successfully completed my matric with the help of various mentors including my family and teachers, I am overwhelmed by this accomplishment. The feeling of holding a position among the top 39 achievers is utterly ineffable. The sacrifices and commitments, including the study sessions, have ultimately yielded a triumphant outcome.”
As part of the 39 national top matric achievers for 2024, Given received a bursary from the minister of basic education, Siviwe Gwarube. He walked away with about R45,000 cash prizes from different institutions, a laptop, printer, iPad, smart phone, airtime, data, a three-piece travel set, shopping vouchers for groceries and textbooks.
The Limpopo education department also rewarded his efforts.
His message to the class of 2025 was: “It is essential to recognise that setbacks and disappointments are part of life and inevitable. Just have a positive attitude toward your goals. Never be afraid of change and never be afraid of being unique. Do not be too concerned about what others have to say. Just live up to your full potential, avoid excuses, give it your all and just do you.”
The Setotolwane Elsen Secondary School reporting project is supported by the Henry Nxumalo Foundation and a joint venture between, Diary Series of Deaf People (www.thedeafdiary.com), Sunday Times and Rapport. This story was first published by Sunday Times on 20 January 2025.
