Top IEB achievers from Durban schools share their excitement, gratitude after tough matric year
Andisiwe Dlamini from Thomas More college appears on the IEB Outstanding Achievements List.
Image: Supplied
Top achievers in the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams say they were relieved and excited after they received their matric results yesterday.
Nicole Hill from St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls (DSG), Kloof and Thomas More College pupil Andisiwe Dlamini both appeared on the IEB Outstanding Achievements list for having achieved in the top 5% in six subjects with Level 7 in Life Orientation.
She said: “Receiving my results, I experienced a mixture of relief, excitement, and anxiety about the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Matric is a long and demanding journey, and overall I am deeply grateful and proud that the hard work throughout 2025 came to fruition.”
Hill added that her results “met, and in some respects far exceeded my expectations”, adding that her matric year “pushed me beyond my comfort zone and taught me the true meaning of resilience and discipline”. She credited her family, friends, and teachers for their support during what she described as a challenging year.
Nicole Hill from St Mary's DSG Kloof appears on the IEB Outstanding Achievements list.
Image: Supplied
Her proudest moment came in October when she was named Dux of the School for 2025. “It was a particularly special moment for me, as it allowed me to see the results of hard work and perseverance,” she said.
She will attend Stellenbosch University this year, where she plans to study Biomedical Mathematics, with the intention of progressing towards a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering.
Dlamini said she felt “extremely excited, but most importantly, grateful” upon receiving her results. “The results are not only a reflection of my hard work, but also of the constant support I received from my parents and friends,” she said.
She said her results met her expectations, despite the anxiety that often accompanies the delay between writing final exams and receiving results. “When I consider the effort I put in throughout the year, the results truly met my expectations,” she said.
She described her matric year as one of “limit testing”, requiring learners to balance academic pressure with personal responsibilities. Her proudest achievement was being awarded Dux of the class and achieving an overall aggregate of 93%.
Dlamini plans to study medicine and hopes to launch a website aimed at assisting future matric learners. Her advice to the class of 2026 was faith-centred: “Do not underestimate the importance of God in your life. Some of the most difficult moments can change significantly with just 15 minutes of prayer a day.”
Reflecting on her year, she said matric was not about having everything figured out, but about learning and growth.