Matric Top Achievers Share Secrets To Success Ahead Of 2025 NSC Results

As South Africa’s matric class of 2025 eagerly awaited their National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, some of the country’s top achievers shared their remarkable journeys at a ministerial breakfast hosted by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in Johannesburg on Monday.

The event, held at the MTN Innovation Centre, was attended by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and celebrated students who excelled under challenging circumstances.

Overcoming Challenges: Takunda Muchuweni’s Story of Perseverance

Among the standout achievers was Takunda Muchuweni from Jan Kriel School, a special education school in the Western Cape. Living with a disability, Muchuweni faced both mental and physical challenges throughout the year.

“The most difficult part of my year was battling self-doubt and being in real physical pain. I had to write exams while sick, and I was wondering whether I would be physically able to make it,” she said.

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“It was demotivating to put in all the work and get the strength to go to school, and then when you sit for the exam, you are hit with sharp pain. You have to focus and write for three hours with a smile on your face when you are just racked with pain.”

She encouraged the Class of 2026 to keep striving for their dreams despite hardships.

Celebrating the Best of the Best

According to Umalusi, a total of 927 143 candidates wrote the 2025 NSC exams across the DBE, Independent Examinations Board (IEB), and South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI). Of these, 903 561 wrote under the DBE, 17 414 through the IEB, and 6 168 via SACAI.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi praised the top achievers, calling them “the best of the best.”

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“This is what the country can produce. It always excites me to be in the company of young people who are so gifted and have the capabilities to take the country forward,” he said.

Lesufi also highlighted the importance of embracing technology in education, including artificial intelligence. “We must make it easier for students to use it for education. It is here and real; we can’t avoid it.”

Excellence Through Discipline and Resilience

Minister Gwarube said the top achievers had “achieved something remarkable.”

“You have not only passed; you have excelled. In doing so, you have expanded what is possible for yourselves, your families, and your communities. You have shown that excellence is not reserved for a privileged few, but is earned through discipline, resilience, and focus.”

She added: “Your stories remind us that success is not the absence of hardship, but the refusal to be defined by it. You faced obstacles that could easily have pushed you back down the hill. Moments when the climb felt unfair, when progress slipped away just as it seemed within reach. And yet, you persevered.”

The breakfast was part of a broader programme leading up to the official release of the 2025 NSC results, which will be announced later on Monday. Candidates will be able to access their individual results through official DBE platforms on Tuesday, 13 January 2026.

The DBE urged pupils and parents to rely on verified sources and seek guidance where needed. The department said the 2025 matric class wrote under intense pressure but demonstrated resilience and determination, setting a strong example for the future of South Africa’s education system.

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