EMALAHLENI — Nkangala TVET College recognised its top-performing students during the 2025 Academic Awards Ceremony held at the Civic Theatre in eMalahleni on Tuesday, 26 May.
The ceremony celebrated outstanding students across various NCV and Nated programmes, including Engineering Studies, Business Studies, Hospitality, Information Technology, Finance, Economics and Accounting, Process Instrumentation, Transport and Logistics, and Electrical Infrastructure Construction.
Awards were presented to the best-performing students in each programme, as well as the overall top achievers at the Witbank Campus.
Acting Campus Manager Pfarelo Munyai praised the students for their dedication and commitment to academic excellence.
“Words truly cannot capture the immense pride we feel for our award recipients. When our students stand on that stage, they are carrying the flag of Witbank Campus,” said Munyai.
He said the achievements reflected the quality of education and vocational training offered at the campus.
“These achievements are a direct reflection of the high calibre of education and vocational training taking place right here at Witbank Campus. It proves that we are cultivating real-world competence and employable skills,” he said.
Local Students' Representative Council (LSRC) Chairperson Tumisho Tshehla also addressed students during the programme, encouraging them to remain focused on their studies and continue striving for excellence.
Former student and motivational speaker Maria Maredi inspired students by sharing her educational journey at the college. Maredi studied Management Assistant from N4 to N6 at Nkangala TVET College before completing her internship at Witbank Hospital and later furthering her studies at Tshwane University of Technology.
Today, she serves as a lecturer and credited the college with laying the foundation for her success.
“I did not start as a lecturer. I started as an ordinary student with dreams, fears, challenges and uncertainties about the future,” said Maredi.
“Education has the power to change your life, just as it changed mine. From being a student to an intern, a tutor and today a lecturer, my journey is proof that determination and education open doors.”
Maredi encouraged students not to allow failure, poverty or fear to define their future and urged them to remain disciplined and committed to their studies.
One of the award recipients, Khulekani Ntuli, who is currently studying Level 4 Fitting and Turning, said receiving recognition motivated him to work even harder.
“Receiving the award made me feel that my hard work had been recognised and motivated me to push even further,” said Ntuli.
Ntuli, who received an award as the best student on campus while in Level 2, said he later achieved six distinctions out of seven subjects in Level 3.
“I have always been the son of a single parent, so I have always dreamed of making my mother proud and achieving my goals so that her dream of seeing me succeed could also become a reality,” he said.
The event highlighted the institution’s commitment to rewarding hard work, academic excellence and student development, while inspiring other students to pursue success in their studies.
