JOHANNESBURG – While education experts say the 98.2 percent pas rate achieved by the IEB matric class of 2012 is no surprise, the Independent Examinations Board has emphasised the value of basic education.

The matriculant’s results were released yesterday.

More than 8, 900 pupils at 183 private schools and an additional 534 part-time pupils wrote the matric exams uMalusi has declared fair and credible.

The class of 2012 fared slightly better than that of 2011 – who achieved a 96.15 percent pass rate.

A St John’s College matriculant who has been accepted into Harvard University in the United States on Saturday told Eyewitness News that he was overjoyed.

Jacques van Rhyn was one of the top students at the Houghton school who ranked in the top one percent of candidates in the country in four subjects, including Mathematics and Afrikaans.

Van Rhyn, who also obtained an overall average of 94 percent, says he wants to study an undergraduate degree majoring in Mathematics.

“I’m very happy, I’m really excited! It’s fantastic [that] my hard work has paid off.”

His mother Heleen believes it is more than just Jacques’ academic performance that got him into Harvard.

She says she believes it is St Johns’ reputation and Jacques’ charity work that got him noticed by admission officers at the Ivy League institution.

The school achieved a 100 percent pass rate.

Meanwhile, education expert Graeme Bloch has praised the IEB class of 2012.

for more details go to http://www.ewn.co.za

 

Kaizer Chiefs striker Kingston Nkhatha has travelled in Africa with the Zimbabwean national team and, as South Africa prepares to host the Afcon 2013, the former Black Leopards striker believes Bafana Bafana has what it takes to win the trophy at home.

 

Bafana Bafana are in Group A with surprise package Cape Verde, Morocco and Angola and Nkhatha thinks they will top the group and go all the way.

 

He told Soccer-Laduma that he plays with many national team players at Amakhosi and he knows they are quality, capable of winning the Afcon 2013.

 

“This is a good team that can challenge for top honours in Africa. They have been unfortunate in many cases where they play very well but just fail to win,” he said.

 

“But I think when next year comes they will be a well gelled team that can beat any team in Africa in the tournament. They are hosting and you know how passionate South Africans are when it comes to their football.

 

“If they can fill the stadiums and support the team I see no reason why the team can’t win this trophy. They For have what it takes to win it,” Nkhatha concluded.

For more details go to http://www.soccerladuma.com

 

By Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana wrapped up the three-day training camp at Orlando Stadium where head coach Gordon Igesund had a last look at players before naming his final 23-man squad tomorrow.

 

The announcement will be made at the Southern Sun Monet Casino Hotel in Fourways, Johannesburg at 15h00.

 

A total of 33 players took part in the training camp but will be trimmed to 23 for the Africa Cup of Nations South Africa 2013 tournament.

 

 “I am excited that everything went well, the players raised their hands to say they want to be included in the final squad. You could tell almost all of them don’t want to be left out. This was a very important camp where we had the cream of the crop and I saw what I wanted to see. Now the wait for the players begins while for me it’s crunch time. The challenge is who to leave out,” said Igesund.

 

England-based Kagisho Dikgacoi and Dean Furman, as well as Belgium-based Darren Keet were not part of the training camp due to club commitments, while Benni McCarthy, Eric Mathoho and Ayanda Patosi will not be considered due to injuries.

 

NO.

 

  PLAYER’S NAME

 

  CLUB

 

     

1.

 

  Itumeleng 

 

KHUNE Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  2.

 

  Wayne 

 

SANDILANDS Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

 

  3.

 

  Senzo 

 

MEYIWA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  4.

 

  Bevan

 

FRANSMAN Supersport United FC (SA)

 

  5.

 

  Thabo 

 

NTHETHE Bloemfontein Celtic (SA)

 

  6.

 

  Siyabonga

 

SANGWENI Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  7.

 

  Siyanda 

 

XULU FC Rostov (Russia)

 

  8.

 

  Siboniso 

 

GAXA Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  9.

 

  Tshepo 

 

MASILELA Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  10.

 

  Thabo 

 

MATLABA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  11.

 

  Oupa

 

MANYISA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  12.

 

  Reneilwe

 

LETSHOLONYANE Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  13.

 

  Siphiwe 

 

TSHABALALA Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  14.

 

  Sifiso 

 

MYENI Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  15.

 

  Thanduyise 

 

KHUBONI Lamontville Golden Arrows FC (SA)

 

  16.

 

  May 

 

MAHLANGU Helsingborg IF (Sweden)

 

  17.

 

  Delron

 

BUCKLEY Maritzburg United FC (SA)

 

  18.

 

  Lerato 

 

CHABANGU Moroka Swallows FC (SA)

 

  19.

 

  Thuso 

 

PHALA Platinum Stars FC (SA)

 

  20.

 

  Daine 

 

KLATE Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  21.

 

  Bernard 

 

PARKER Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  22.

 

  Lehlohonolo 

 

MAJORO Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  23.

 

  Tokelo 

 

RANTIE Malmo FF (Sweden)

 

  24.

 

  Anele 

 

NGCONGCA Racing Genk FC (Belgium)

 

  25.

 

  Andile 

 

JALI Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  26.

 

  Teko 

 

MODISE Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

 

  27.

 

  Bongani 

 

KHUMALO Paok FC (Greece)

 

  28.

 

  Ricardo 

 

NUNES MSK Zilina FC (Slovakia)

 

  29.

 

  Thulani

 

SERERO Ajax Amsterdam FC (Holland)

 

  30.

 

  Katlego 

 

MPHELA Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

 

  31.

 

  Dean 

 

FURMAN Oldham Athletic FC (Eng)

 

  32.

 

  Kagisho 

 

DIKGACOI Crystal Palace FC (Eng)

 

  33.

 

  Darren 

 

KEET Kortrijk FC (Belgium

 

 

 

New Year is the time for throwing out the old… and the style police on social networking sites have a few suggestions.

 

Here’s a list of all the things that have been named as “so 2012!”

 

Skinny jeans on men are out, leave the hips and the curves to the girls.

 

Colour blocking, no you don’t have to compete with the rainbow any more.

 

Ditto for colour hair extensions.

 

Weird baby names from Tinkerbell to Buzz-Bee to Nemo, Peaches and Apple. We live in the real world, not fairyland or Disneyworld.

 

YOLO – we can blame rapper Drake for popularising this useless phrase. We all know that “you only live once” unless some have their identity confused with that of a cat.

 

50 Shades of Grey, let’s move on to a more colourful (and intellectual) read.

 

Julius Malema jokes, leave him be to tend to his cabbages.

 

Khaya Mthethwa and Chad le Clos could move into the “so 2012” bracket, but as they are said to be single – these are celebs to keep an eye on in 2013.

 

Remarks about the weight of Adele, Christina and Lady Gaga, let’s find something a little more phat to talk about.

 

Putting the last name of a celebrity on your Facebook profile name, oh yes Mary Smith-”Bieber” we are talking to you!

 

Pouting in pics, leave that to the chimps in the zoo.

 

If you are doing the Gangnam style at your New Year’s Eve party at one minute past 12, you are so 2012.

 

Using Facebook as a bragbook, to talk about the places you’re going to, the outfits you buy or your latest gadgets.

 

Last but not least, Twilight fans – it’s time to find something new to read/watch, try finding a hobby. Here’s to 2013 and the promise of new fun trends, new dance moves and #GoodTimes. -Saturday Star

For more details go to iol.co.za