​Five beneficiaries of Emthonjeni satellite centre thanked the organisation for helping them achieve their good matric results, saying the support from the centre and extra classes made all the difference.
Nthabeleng Likoebe (19) from Small Farm in Evaton was one of many matriculants who demonstrated that it really is possible to rise above one’s circumstances.

Likoebe, who bagged five distinctions, is already registered to study Law at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

"You can achieve anything that you put your mind and soul into and have the ambition to achieve," said young Likoebe.

Likoebe added that the main secret to his achievement is a combination of discipline, hard work and determination to succeed in life. “Being raised by a granny sometimes is a motivation on its own and as a child seeing that the granny is doing everything in her power for you to get education you just get motivated and therefore you just want to make her proud”.

He could not hide his excitement, and said he was looking forward to a new challenge at the institution of high learning. Likoebe said he has always wanted to become a lawyer from a young age because he has a passion for helping other people. “I learned so many things from Koko and I want to help others especially those who are helpless”, he added. He sung praises to Emthonjeni satellite centre saying it’s a good government intervention programme to many communities especially poor communities where there is a myriad of socio-economic challenges such as poverty and unemployment. He urged young people to invest in education.

Another beneficiary Polediso Motsoeneng (18) said under difficult academic conditions he is happy that they managed to put extensive efforts to produce good results. He thanked the organisation and the Gauteng Department of Social Development for their intervention in schools, saying if it wasn’t for them probably, he would have not achieved those good results.

Motsoeneng who was studying at Esokwazi Secondary School bagged four distinctions and he is going to study BSc in applied Mathematics at the University of Johannesburg.

He challenged 2022 Grade 12 learners to start studying now, work hard and ask questions when they do not understand something.

They all thanked the people from Emthonjeni for motivating them and always reminding them about the importance of education.

“We are proud of these children for having to put so much effort and produce these results under difficult conditions of Covid-19. All our beneficiaries obtained bachelors pass which gain them entry into any institutions of higher learning and we are proud of that”, said Emthonjeni project manager Zanele Tshabalala.