Little kids with big dreams start school careers

As some Grade 1 pupils strode confidently through their school corridors and quads yesterday, new Grade R pupils feigned confidence, with some even chasing their mothers away.

At Pendla Primary School in New Brighton Zukhanye Mate, 5, gently pushed his mom away after he was shown his classroom.

"I’m very excited. I just want my class now,” he said. "My mom bought this uniform long ago already because I couldn’t wait for school.”

Zukhanye said he would like to be a policeman one day, but could not say why.

His mother, Ayanda, said he was not in the least bit nervous about starting "big school”, after graduating from pre-school last year.

"He has always loved school, even while he was at creche. He is the one who told me that he wanted to go to Pendla this year and I had to oblige,” she said.

Aphelele Mavunjana, 5, of Charles Duna Primary in New Brighton, said she wanted to be a principal when she was older.

"Ah, so you want to be a teacher,” we asked.

"No, a principal,” was her stern correction.