MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Sibonokuhle Femele (18) made history today, 13 January, when she was named the top achiever in Garden Route High School’s first-ever matric class and the first person in her family to matriculate.

Garden Route High, which was founded in 2022 by the current principal, Edgar Gelembe, had its first intake of Grade 12 learners last year, Femele being one of them.

She said she was expecting to be the school’s top achiever and had worked extremely hard. 

“I made a lot of sacrifices during the year to make sure I could be the top performer,” she said.

While Femele said she didn’t want to go into detail on those sacrifices, she said all of it was for her grandmother, with whom she lives. 

“I am the first in my family to matriculate. I am feeling a bit emotional right now. I know my grandmother is going to be proud when I tell her. I just know she is going to cry,” she said.

She said she has been provisionally accepted into the University of Johannesburg to study BCom and has plans to be an accountant, however, she does not currently have the funding for it.

Femele said she hopes that opportunities such as bursaries or sponsorships may become available so that she can continue her education.

When asked what her hopes for her future were, she replied: “I just want to make my grandmother happy.”

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