On 9 July 2025, the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Talent Pipeline Programme (TPP) hosted the 2025 Matric Farewell Ceremony, celebrating the dedication and commitment of its Grade 12 learners.
As a pre-university enrichment programme aimed at increasing the academic, social, and psychosocial preparation of learners to enter higher education. These TPP learners have shown resilience, discipline, and a willingness to invest in their academic growth and personal development throughout their high school journey.
In his welcome remarks, Mr David Duiker, TPP Coordinator, stated that “it is a true honour to stand before you this evening to reflect on the journey we have walked together, and invoke hope for the road that still lies ahead” he said, reminding them that they are more prepared than they realise for the path ahead, and that they are supported by mentors and staff who believe in their potential.
In a heart-warming address a Grade 12 learner shared “I would like to say that TPP was not just a programme for learning; it helped me build relationships with people who became friends and family. It showed me that the best is yet to come, and as the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Crouch, said, we are the cream of the crop.”
Kutlwano Merahe, a mentor and SPU alumnus, shared words of encouragement with the learners, reminding them to carry the “3Ds” into their next chapter: Determination, Discipline and Development. He emphasized the importance of applying these principles in their everyday lives as they step into a new life.
Dr Cedras, University Registrar, reminded the learners, during his keynote address, of the words he shared with them during their Entrepreneurship Session to “persist and resist” He highlighted that persistence will carry them through challenges while the ability to resist distractions will keep them focused on their goals. Dr Cedras noted that they are role models for the Grade 10s and 11s, as well as for the future cohorts. He closed his address with a powerful reminder, sharing the words of a philosopher “if you find something very difficult to achieve yourself, don’t imagine it impossible; for anything possible and proper for another person can be achieved as easily by you”
The Talent Pipeline Programme remains a testament to SPU’s commitment to changing the lives of exceptional learners and enabling their brighter futures.
