Africa-Press – Eswatini. Herefords Primary School in the Hhohho Region has built a strong reputation for producing learners who achieve national recognition.
This was highlighted by SiSwati teacher Hloniphile Mamba on Monday, 23 February 2026, during International Mother Tongue Day commemorations held at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA). The remarks followed the recognition of Melokuhle Ndlela as Eswatini’s second-best SiSwati pupil countrywide in the 2025 Standard Five results.
The young achiever received her certificate at the event, hosted by the Ministry of Education and Training in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at the university’s Ligcabho Lemaswati Sports Emporium.
Reflecting on the school’s track record, Mamba said Herefords Primary continues to produce top-performing learners. “In 2022, another learner from Herefords received a national award. Now, with Melokuhle securing second position nationally, it shows that our school consistently produces excellence. Soon, Herefords will be aiming for first position,” she said.
Now a Form One learner at St Theresa High School, Melokuhle continues to excel as an ambassador for SiSwati and a strong advocate for multilingual education. She completed her primary education at Herefords Primary School, obtaining an Excellent grade under the newly introduced pass rate system.
Encouraging learners to value their mother tongue, Mamba urged pupils to take SiSwati seriously and embrace their identity as Emaswati. She emphasised the importance of speaking SiSwati confidently during lessons and reading SiSwati literature to strengthen comprehension, reading and writing skills.
Receiving her certificate, Melokuhle expressed gratitude and pride in her achievement. “I am very happy for this recognition. Learning SiSwati is not just about examinations; it is about preserving our culture. I encourage fellow learners to love and respect our language and always speak SiSwati with pride,” she said.
Her accomplishment stands as a testament to youth excellence and underscores the importance of preserving cultural heritage through language and education.
