Speech by the Minister of Basic Education
 

Top Achievers’ Breakfast: MTN Innovation Centre
12 January 2026

Programme Director,

Pemier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi
My co-pilot Deputy Minister Dr Reginah Mhaule

Our Gracious host Ms Yolanda Cuba and the Executives leadership of MTN,
Our partners and sponsors,
Parents and guardians,
Teachers joining us here and watching from home,
Most importantly, our Top Achievers of the Class of 2025,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning

There is an ancient story from Greek mythology about a man condemned by Zeus to push a heavy boulder up a steep hill. Each time he reached the top, the boulder would roll back down, and he would have to begin again. For many years, I believe this story has been misunderstood. It is often told as a tragedy, a tale of endless suffering and futility.

But the eternal optimist in me believes there is another way to read that story.

I don’t’ believe that man was unhappy.

I believe he found meaning, even joy, in the pursuit itself. In striving. In the discipline of showing up every day to push that boulder upward, knowing the climb mattered even when the summit did not last. Because in the pursuit of excellence, in the act of giving your best, there is dignity, purpose, and yes, happiness.

That is why this story matters today. Because every learner we celebrate this morning knows something about pushing a boulder uphill. About late nights, early mornings, setbacks, pressure, self-doubt, and the quiet decision, again and again, to keep going.

And today, we gather not just to celebrate the summit you reached, but the pursuit of excellence that brought you here.

To the parents and guardians in the room: today also belongs to you, as much as it belongs to your children.

Behind every high-achieving learner is a home that made sacrifices. A home that chose discipline over comfort, encouragement over despair. You carried emotional, financial, and psychological weight so that your children could focus on learning. You pushed your own boulders—sometimes silently, sometimes exhausted, often without recognition.

You sat through meetings, worried through exam seasons, stretched limited resources, but you never stopped believing, even when the path was unclear. Your love, structure, and consistency formed the foundation upon which these learner’s achievements stand.

We thank you.

To the teachers watching from classrooms, staff rooms, across the country as they prepare to receive learners Back-To-School: this celebration is yours too.

Teachers are the quiet architects of excellence. You see potential before it becomes visible. You insist on high standards when learners would rather lower them. You correct, guide, encourage, and sometimes simply refuse to give up on a child who may already have given up on themselves.

In a system often under strain, you continue to push forward. You show up with commitment, creativity, and courage. The achievements we celebrate today are a testament to your professionalism and your belief in what education can do. Without Excellent teachers, we cannot get excellent learners.

Thank you for choosing to follow your calling to be a teacher. Thank you for shaping minds, building confidence, and holding the line for quality education.

And now, to our Top Achievers—our stars of the Class of 2025.

Today, we celebrate you.

You have achieved something remarkable. You have not only passed; you have excelled. In doing so, you have expanded what is possible for yourselves, your families, and your communities. You have shown that excellence is not reserved for a privileged few, but is earned through discipline, resilience, and focus.

But let me say this clearly: this moment is not the end of your journey. It is the beginning of a new climb.

There will be other hills. Other boulders. Other moments when progress feels slow or setbacks feel heavy. Do not be discouraged when the climb becomes steep again. Remember what you have already proven that you can persevere, that you can adapt, and that you can rise.

Carry forward not just your results, but the habits that produced them: curiosity, effort, humility, and grit. South Africa needs not only your intelligence, but your character.

This morning would not be possible without the generous partnership of MTN.

To MTN, thank you for hosting us at your Innovation Centre—a space that symbolizes creativity, technology, and the future. You have been a steady and reliable partner to basic education in our country, investing not only resources, but trust, time, and vision.

Your commitment sends a powerful message to our learners: that the private sector believes in them, believes in public education, and believes in South Africa’s future. We are deeply grateful.

We also extend sincere appreciation to all our sponsors and partners who have supported this celebration and continue to support education across the system. Partnerships like these strengthen our collective ability to nurture talent and unlock opportunity.

As I conclude, I want to offer a special word to the recipients of our special award, those who have achieved excellence against adversity.

Your stories remind us that success is not the absence of hardship, but the refusal to be defined by it. You faced obstacles that could easily have pushed you back down the hill. Circumstances beyond your control. Moments when the climb felt unfair, when progress slipped away just as it seemed within reach.

And yet, you persevered.

Like the man in that ancient story, you did not abandon the climb when the boulder rolled back. You did not lose heart when the summit disappeared. You found contentment, purpose, and strength in the pursuit of excellence itself.

Today, you reap the rewards of that pursuit.

May you carry this lesson with you: that excellence is not only found at the top of the hill, but in the climb itself.

South Africa, these are your Top Achievers for the NSC Class of 2025.

Congratulations to each and every one of you. South Africa is proud of you. The future is brighter because of you.

I thank you.