Marie Strachan
KAREN de Wet was travelling back from holiday in the Cape yesterday when she heard she had scored nine distinctions in the 2011 matric exams.
De Wet, of Richardsbaai Hoërskool in the Empangeni district, did eight National Senior Certificate subjects and maths 3 privately through the Independent Examination Board.
She would study actuarial science at Stellenbosch University this year.
“I have always loved everything to do with maths. It was a lot of hard work and I would have been disappointed if I had not done as well as I have,” she said.
Rachel Barratt, of St Catherine’s in Empangeni, also scored eight distinctions.
Barratt, who emigrated to New Zealand with her family before Christmas, would study physics at the University of Victoria in Wellington on a bursary from that institution.
Besides working towards her eight distinctions over the past year, she also completed her Grade 8 music exam.
Fellow St Catherine’s pupils Simone Naicker and Rosemary Thirsk achieved seven and six As respectively.
Empangeni High School matriculant Marjolein Mansvelder is hoping her seven distinctions will help her realise her dream of becoming a commercial pilot.
“I have applied to study investment sciences at the University of the Free State and I hope to get a bursary with my results. I actually want to be a commercial pilot, but the course is too expensive. I plan to take flying lessons while I study in Bloemfontein to see if I enjoy flying.
“If I do, then I may go to Holland and get my pilot’s licence there.”
The top achiever from Eshowe High School was head boy Damian Reddy, with seven distinctions. “You have to put in the time to get the results,” said a thrilled Reddy, who will study law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Also from Eshowe High School, Zamashenge Buthelezi achieved six distinctions and will study medicine. Fellow pupil Siyabonga Mkhwanazi also achieved six distinctions and will study to be an actuary at the University of Cape Town.
