CAPE TOWN – Zwaanswyk High School has achieved remarkable matric results, with top achiever Miguel Meyer earning five distinctions and maintaining an impressive 80%+ aggregate.
This year the school secured a 99,3% pass rate, a slight improvement from last year’s 99.1%.
There were 72,59% Bachelors Passes, 22% Diploma Passes and 5% Higher Certificates this year, school principal Anushka Daniels added.
“We were the fifth best performing school in Metro South,” she said.
Top achiever defies the odds
Miguel Meyer, who grew up in Steenberg, was stunned when called to the stage as the school’s top achiever.
He secured five distinctions with a Bachelor’s access pass maintaining his 80%+ aggregate.
“I was in absolute disbelief when I were called to the stage as the top achiever. I arrived at school thinking that I have only produced one or two distinctions,” Meyer said.
Despite facing significant challenges growing up in Steenberg and dealing with difficulties at home, Meyer never stopped aiming for excellence.
His success is even more remarkable considering his demanding schedule as Junior Mayor of Cape Town while serving on the student council executive. “
Juggling Junior Mayor of Cape Town, student council executive, extra-mural activities and academics was a true struggle, but the ability to block out time for each was the key factor,” he explained.
Meyer credits effective time management and late-night studying sessions for his success, often using the school library to review daily content before heading home.
“Past papers have been an absolute life saver for me this year. I would study the content of the subject for approximately one hour and would put what I have learnt into practice,” he said.
Second and third achievers excel
Jade Schmidt claimed second place with outstanding results including 92% in life orientation, 87% in English, 86% in life sciences, and 84% in history.
Despite battling family issues and personal anxiety, particularly struggling with physics, Schmidt persevered to achieve remarkable results.
“I felt extremely relieved knowing that all of my hard work and dedication has paid off,” Schmidt said. She plans to study biology with psychology at Stellenbosch University, hoping to pursue a career in neurology.
Third-placed Zoe Dampies earned distinctions in English Home Language, Afrikaans First Additional Language, business studies, and life orientation, describing herself as “still on cloud nine”.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw my results, and tears of happiness just started flowing,” Dampies said. She’ll pursue Social Work at the University of Cape Town (UCT), specialising in community development and social justice.
Inspiring others
Meyer hopes to inspire his community to always persevere despite their personal challenges.
“This achievement is not my own. It is achievement of every individual from a community on the Cape Flats that think they do not have a future. That is not true.”
Schmidt echoed this sentiment: “My achievement shows that it doesn’t matter where you come from, only where you want to go.”
Their advice to the Class of 2026 is simple but effective: start early, show up consistently, and maintain balance between academics and personal well-being.
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