Palesa Mofoti picture: Karabo Ntanzi
It was a proud moment for the Galeshewe-based Retlameleng School for Learners with Physical Disabilities, Visual and Hearing Impaired, to contribute towards the 87.9% pass rate for the matric class of 2025. The school was celebrated for achieving a 100% pass rate, thanks to Tlotlo Immanuel Sizane and Clement Ncube.
Sizane, who is blind since birth, is the second and last-born child, raised by a single mother, said growing up had its own challenges, especially in the public’s eye, as he was often bullied, including in his own neighbourhood.
Reserved and calm in demeanor and an avid reader, he shared his childhood journey of starting school as a nervous young boy, unsure of how he would survive in a school environment, since he had mostly interacted with his mother and sister. There was a glimmer of hope when he realised that there were other physically disabled learners in his class.
He described the “big moment” when he was called to the stage to receive his certificate during the Matric Awards. “I felt like I had finally made it. A feeling of relief, as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders”, he stated.
He imagined himself entering the gates of the University of Free State to pursue a Law Degree; however, he was disappointed that he did not meet the required score. He is not discouraged and vows to follow his dream of becoming a Lawyer. “I am going to rewrite English and History to meet the required score”, he confirmed.
Unlike other learners who attend primary school and then move to a different high school, for Sizane, Retlameleng is the only school he has known since 2013.
He defined his childhood at home as normal with limitations
He is independent in some routines, such as bathing himself, preparing his own meals and being sent to the local tuckshop. “I cannot join other children to play and enjoy in the street out of fear of injury or bullying. It is a painful feeling as I would sometimes feel lonely.”
“Another challenge during the exams, was the lack of resources when you need them most,” he mentioned the fact that, some question papers were not available in Braille. The Invigilator had to read out those question papers then they answered in Braille. He was not comfortable with this process and it took long.
Sizane stated that education is something he takes very seriously, hence he feels proud to have been acknowledged.
“The fact that someone has a disability does not mean they are unable to do something; they simply just do it differently. I managed to succeed regardless of the lack of vision and that should not stop other abled or disabled children,” he motivated.
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