Mukoni Netsivhadzo is blind, did not have enough resources and yet he still made it to top the country as one of South Africa’s top 40 matric achievers
Moments after being honoured by education minister Siviwe Gwarube, he admited that it still felt unreal.
“It feels like a dream come true,” he said.
Mukoni studied at at Rivoni School for the Blind in Limpopo where he said he had struggles with access to resources needed to do his best.
“I had problems with resources,” he said.
Still, he said, his go-getter energy made sure he got all the A’s he had his eyes set on.
On Monday, the minister announced that 88% of matric learners in 2025 passed the exams- a first for the country.
More than 900 000 candidates wrote the 2025 examinations across about 6 000 centres nationwide.
Mukoni said that he knew clearly that he had a chance to show others with disabilities that success was possible.
“I always wanted to be an inspiration,” he said.
Mukoni said he remained focused on his goals and intentionally surrounded himself with high-performing peers who pushed him to aim higher.
His long-term ambition is to pursue a career in law.
One of the key lessons that carried him through matric, he said, was the value of learning from those who excel.
His attitude was clear: If you spend time with the best, you will become the best.
