Takunda is number 1 in SA!

Prestige through perseverance

Takunda Muchuweni, Jan Kriel Schools’ Dux student of 2025, achieved 7 distinctions in her matric examination and was recently honoured as South Africa’s no.1 LSEN matriculant! Takunda’s presence at the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Top Achievers Ceremony stood as a powerful reminder that academic excellence is not defined by circumstance, but by resilience, discipline and unwavering belief. 

Paralysed from the neck down and reliant on a wheelchair, she had to navigate her final school year while managing constant pain and recurring illness. Her journey to matric success was marked not only by the usual academic pressures faced by thousands of candidates nationwide, but by intense physical and emotional challenges that tested her endurance daily. She described matric as an unpredictable and demanding journey, but one that rewards consistency and self-belief.

 “The most difficult part of my year was battling self-doubt and being in real physical pain. I had to write exams while sick and I was wondering whether I would be physically able to make it. It was very tough. There was a lot of self-doubt. There were a lot of days where I was in pain and a lot of days where I felt like giving up. I felt really privileged to be in a school with so many resources and helpful people.” 

 “There were nights she could not sleep, because she was in pain. However, throughout that, she was studying. We had to bring her books so she could study while in the hospital. She kept communicating with her teachers." her mother, Tamari, said.

Jan Kriel learners complete the same National Senior Certificate examination as learners in mainstream schools. The only difference is that Takunda needed the help of a scribe. By providing the funding for this very much needed service, Jan Kriel donors make a big difference in the lives of our learners. In the November 2025 examinations nearly 1600 papers were written at Jan Kriel with the assistance of scribes. Thank you!

While celebrating her academic success on the national stage, Takunda is already looking ahead. She plans to pursue studies in Psychology, motivated by a desire to understand human behaviour and resilience - qualities she has embodied throughout her schooling.

Her message to the Class of 2026 is simple, but profound: 

“Matric is a roller coaster and no-one is ever fully prepared. What matters is persistence. Just keep on going, keep on believing in yourself and work hard each and every day.”