When Lefa-Ifa Secondary School’s matric camp faced a funding crisis in 2024, Principal Dr. Disekeletso Saboshego turned a challenging situation into an opportunity for success. With no sponsors available to provide meals for the 20 camps held at the school, Saboshego found a creative solution—she borrowed food from other schools’ feeding schemes to ensure her pupils were well-fed and focused.
Her determination paid off. Lefa-Ifa achieved a remarkable 91% matric pass rate, placing it at the top of the rankings in KwaThema, Ekurhuleni, and surpassing all other schools in the region. Of the 170 pupils who sat for their matric exams, 97 qualified for bachelor’s degrees, 49 for diplomas, and 10 earned certificates, with just 15 pupils not passing.
Saboshego, who took over as principal three years ago, described the journey as a tough one. When she arrived, the school was struggling with discipline and academic performance. “It was difficult, especially with some teachers resisting my leadership, which only made things worse,” she reflected. However, Saboshego’s unwavering commitment to improving the school, combined with her call for pupils to attend camps to boost their results, turned the tide.
“The challenge was finding food for the pupils to help them focus. It’s not easy when you’re at the bottom, and people don’t often come forward to support you,” Saboshego said. “We had to borrow from other schools, but the teachers and pupils shared a common goal—to achieve good results.”
Saboshego’s vision for Lefa-Ifa is evident in the results, but she remains hopeful for even greater success in the future. “I aimed for a 95% pass rate in 2024, and while we didn’t quite reach that, the progress we’ve made is incredible,” she said. As she prepares to leave the school, she hopes those who follow will continue her work and carry the school’s legacy of excellence forward.
