“I’m happy they launched it early in the year. I’m not very aware about BNSDP projects, but our principal told us that they will change our lives. So, I say thank you to Kagiso Trust and the department [of education in Limpopo] for taking care of us. I’m looking forward to be part of all its projects.” Mathebula wants to be a police officer “to deal with criminals in our community”.

A parent at the school, Naniya Petros Matuludi, praised Kagiso Trust for coming up with such a project for their children. “Obviously, as parents we are over the moon about this project. Our children are also happy because they know that this means to them,” Matuludi said.

Jacob Moshwana, the school’s principal, said they felt honoured to have afforded a chance to host an event of this magnitude. “We are proud and honoured to have hosted the launch of the BNSDP. This is a noble programme that will not only benefit our kids here at Sehlaku Secondary School, but also at other schools in the entire district. There will be a change, a difference in their lives,” he said.

Moshwana is also positive the school will improve its matric result this year after it registered a very low 44.3% pass rate in 2018. Moshwana’s target this year is 75% and he believes with the work put in by the teachers, the target is reachable.

“We improved by about 20% last year, but it was a bit challenging because of the large number of the pupils who sat for matric. We had 235 but this year we have 155. I think we will manage this number.”