Pinelands High pupil Rayyan Ebrahim is the top-performing matriculant in the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.

Rayyan,18, from Thornton, passed with over 97% aggregate and nine distinctions, including 100% for physical science.

“I am so overwhelmed, humbled and grateful for this achievement, and I am glad to see that my hard work has paid off,” he said. “I always tried my best in whatever I do and take on any challenges no matter what they are.”

Rayyan said he had gone through past papers to prepare for his exams.

“I also tried to improve the understanding of my work by tutoring my fellow pupils. I asked many questions to my teachers and used YouTube videos for concepts that I was not understanding.”

Rayyan plans to do a BCom in business science at UCT.

Rayyan was the top pupil in the country’s Quintile 5 category - those schools serving the least poor communities - and his fellow Pinelands High pupil, Matthew Christopher Wise, 18, came second in that category.

Both Rayyan and Matthew were in Randburg on Monday when Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced the results.

“I am really happy with that accomplishment, even though I worked hard. I did not expect to come second in the country,” said Matthew.

Matthew passed with nine distinctions, a 96% aggregate and 100% for maths.

Describing his five years at Pinelands High, Matthew said, “The teachers work hard, and they are incredibly talented, and they prepared the whole matric class well as shown by the school’s 100% pass rate, and I am grateful for them.”

Matthew plans to study a degree in statistics and data science at UCT.

Pinelands High principal Graham Sayer praised Rayyan and Matthew, saying, “They are role models of hard work and using their intelligence to the best of their ability. We are proud of their accomplishments and excited for what the future holds for them.”

Rayyan, left, was the top pupil in the country’s Quintile 5 category - those schools serving the least poor communities - and his fellow Pinelands High pupil, Matthew Christopher Wise, 18, came second in that category