The matric class of 2023 has made history by achieving the highest pass rate in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams history, producing some top achievers.
A total of 82.9% of candidates passed the exams. Among the 715,719 full-time candidates who wrote the exams, some exceptional individual achievers ranked among the top in the country and their respective provinces.
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Record Breaking Class
These top achievers were invited to the Ministerial Release of the 2023 NSC Examination Results, where they received recognition and awards from Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
They also shared their secrets to success and their plans for the future.
The 2023 Matric Top Achievers
Here are some of the top achievers of the 2023 matric class and their stories.
- Melissa Muller from Rhenish Girls High in the Western Cape ranked number one in the country and achieved 100% in nine subjects. She said she studied consistently throughout the year and used online resources to supplement her learning. Mellisa also credited her teachers, parents, and friends for their support and encouragement. She plans to study medicine at the University of Cape Town and hopes to become a neurosurgeon.
- Nomfundo Mthembu from Pinetown Girls High in KwaZulu-Natal ranked second in the country and achieved 100% in eight subjects. She said she balanced academics with extracurricular activities such as debating, chess, and music. Nomfundo also thanked her teachers, parents, and mentors for their guidance and inspiration. She plans to study actuarial science at the University of Pretoria and hopes to pursue a career in finance.
- Thabiso Mofokeng from Thuto Lore Secondary School in the Free State ranked third in the country and achieved 100% in seven subjects. He said he studied hard and practised a lot of past papers and mock exams. Thabiso also thanked his teachers, parents, and peers for their help and motivation. He plans to study computer science at the University of the Witwatersrand and hopes to become a software engineer.
- Lerato Molefe from Sekano-Ntoane Secondary School in Gauteng ranked first in the Quintile 3 category, comprising the country’s poorest schools. She achieved 100% in six subjects and 99% in one subject. She used the lockdown period to revise and prepare for the exams. She also acknowledged her teachers, parents, and community for their support and assistance. She plans to study chemical engineering at the University of Johannesburg and hopes to contribute to the country’s development.
- Siyabonga Nkosi from Sibusisiwe Comprehensive Technical High School in KwaZulu-Natal ranked first in the category of candidates with special needs. He achieved six distinctions despite having a hearing impairment. He said he relied on his visual and tactile senses to learn and communicate. Siyabonga also appreciated his teachers, parents, and friends’ understanding and encouragement. He plans to study electrical engineering at the Durban University of Technology and hopes to become an inventor.
