East London's International Convention Centre was a scene of jubilation on Friday evening as the Eastern Cape education department honoured its 2018 matric top achievers.
Among the proud parents at the ceremony was 57-year-old widow Margaret Nkayi from Polar Park in Elliot, whose son Avukile Nkayi is one of the top four Eastern Cape achievers for 2018.
He bagged seven distinctions, making him the number two star pupil from South Africa's quintile three schools.
"I am very grateful to all the schools and teachers who played a part in shaping my son's future," Margaret said.
"The teachers at Ulundi Primary School organised him a bursary to do his high school at Nyanga [High School] and when he got there he came on top."
Margaret has been making a living as a street hawker since 1991 after her then-husband died in 1990. "Now it is just a matter of time before we are out of poverty," she said.
Avukile said he intends to study medicine at the University of Cape Town.
"After completing [medical studies] I want to specialise in neurology and then go back to serve my community," he said,
- African News Agency (ANA)
