LITHABO MATIWANA & SUE MACLENNAN
Once again, Ndlambe is the top performing circuit among 10 in the Sarah Baartman District, with an average 93% pass rate in the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. It is closely followed by Makana 2 (92%). Ndlambe also boasts the top individual achiever in the Sarah Baartman District, and sees MarselleS Nompucuko Combined School achieving a 100% pass rate for the first time. Nationally, the matric class of 2025 achieved an 88% overall pass rate in the NSC exams, the highest so far.
Nompucuko Combined School has achieved a remarkable milestone, securing a 100% pass rate in the 2025 Matric exams, a significant improvement from 93.1% last year. This outstanding result is a culmination of the school’s relentless efforts to provide quality education and support to its students.
Principal Xolani Davani attributed the school’s groundbreaking success to a multifaceted approach that emphasized peer-to-peer learning and strict adherence to examination guidelines. “Peers understand each other better than us teachers, so we let them assist each other,” he said, highlighting the school’s innovative strategy to bridge the learning gap.
Davani thanked Ndlambe Municipality for their financial backing, and the UWC LGSETA Maths and Science centre for their academic support and provision of tutors for matric students. He also acknowledged the police, especially Sergeant Thulani Thole, for their support.
“The Marselle community faces numerous socio-economic challenges, but we have overcome them together,” Davani said.
Amanda Nqowana and Isiphile Tyelebana, the school’s top achievers, both achieved Bachelor passes. They creditied their success to hard work and determination. Amanda said, “I got motivated by failing a grade and told myself that not anymore.” Both students plan to pursue teaching careers and advised the class of 2026 to build a friendship with their books.
The students’ parents were delighted with the results, praising the school’s administration and teachers for their dedication.
Nosipho Kilane, HOD of EFT, English, and History educator attributed her subjects’ 100% pass rate to a learner-centric approach, emphasizing understanding and strategic teaching. Nompucuko Combined aims to sustain its 100% pass rate while increasing its Bachelor passes and producing a provincial representative.
Hard work, consistency and believing in yourself: those are the things that took Velile Secondary School matriculant Banam Mbumba to the top of the Sarah Baartman District’s matric class of 2025. Banam was speaking from east London where he was attending the Premier’s Awards. The District Dux achieved a full house of seven distinctions, getting 99% for maths literacy and 96.7% for Geography.
“Reach out to your teachers when you’re feeling overwhelmed; hone your study methods and scheduling – plan your time; don’t just work hard, work consistently.”
Most of all, said Banam, “At times, no one else believes in you. You’ve got to learn to believe in yourself.”
Velile Senior Secondary School brought out the champagne last year when their results jumped from a 74.1% pass rate to 94.5%. This year’s celebrations were a bit more subdued at 86.5% with seven of the 52 who wrote not making the grade this time around.
With the stats at her fingertips, deputy principal Nomawethu Kepe said they were pleased with 21 Bachelor passes and 15 distinctions among the 52 who wrote.
“I want to thank the teachers who worked tirelessly as a team,” said Kepe. Principal Wanga Ntantiso was accompanying Banam Mvumba in East London at the Premier’s awards.
She emphatically wanted to thank the broader Bathurst community for their support.
“Especially Patrick Grafton who made sure that our Grade 12s had good meals for their weekend classes.”
“Thank you also to our school’s management: the management style here is peaceful and friendly and that’s conducive to good teaching.”
Kepe said the 2026 Grade 12 class would be significantly larger, with a cohort of 75 enrolling at the start of the year. She said the school’s infrastructure was in dire need of attention and was a challenge, “but we manage anyway”.
Staff and community members and some of the matriculants waited near the R67 junction for Kepe’s return from the department’s Makhanda office with matriculants’ individual results on Tuesday morning.
School nutrition Programme cook Nandipha Dyani spotted two of her former charges among the group and gave them both a big hug.
“It’s because I fed you right that you did so well!” she teased Avuyile Tom and Sibongile Fana.
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This article was first published in Talk of the Town, January 15, 2026. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays
