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Diepkloof launches lifeline for matrics struggling after results
When results day brings more than relief
In Diepkloof, the days after matric results are never just about pass rates and distinctions. For many families, it is a tense moment filled with worry about how young people will cope with disappointment, pressure, and public comparison. With results released on 13 January, a local organisation is stepping in to remind learners that one exam does not define a life.
Kaboentle Women Power and Development Projects has launched a matric support programme aimed at learners from Diepkloof and surrounding areas who may be struggling to process their results. The initiative is rooted in a serious concern that has grown louder in recent years. The emotional fallout after results day has been linked to rising cases of learner distress and suicide.
A safe space after the numbers are out
The programme begins on 15 January at the Quaker Recreation Centre and is focused on immediate emotional support. Learners who did not achieve the results they hoped for will have access to counselling, guidance, and a sense that they are not facing this moment alone.
Founder Monica Moagi says the message is simple but urgent. Failing matric is not the end of the road. Suicide should never be an option. Her words echo a growing call across Gauteng for communities to take mental health as seriously as academic outcomes.
Counselling that continues beyond one conversation
This is not a once-off talk or a motivational lecture. Learners will receive ongoing counselling from social workers from the University of Johannesburg who are working closely with the organisation. Support groups will help learners rebuild confidence, process disappointment, and regain focus during what can be an emotionally fragile period.
The approach recognises that results day can be just as difficult for those who pass but feel they did not do well enough. Joy and disappointment often exist side by side in the same classroom, street, or household.
Practical help for real next steps
Beyond counselling, the programme offers something many learners urgently need. Clear direction. Support includes assistance with TVET college applications, guidance on matric rewrites, and access to skills training options. Local mentors, volunteers, and peers who have faced similar setbacks will also be involved, adding a layer of lived experience that many young people respond to.
In townships like Diepkloof, where resources are often stretched, this kind of practical guidance can be the difference between a learner giving up or finding a new path.
It takes a village, especially now
On local social media pages and community WhatsApp groups, parents and residents have welcomed the initiative, calling it timely and necessary. Many point out that the results season has become more intense in the age of online comparisons and instant sharing.
Moagi says every learner deserves support and a clear path forward, whether they are celebrating or struggling. The programme is built on the belief that raising a child, especially in moments of crisis, is a shared responsibility.
For families looking for help, the message from Diepkloof is clear. You do not have to face this season alone.
For more information, contact Monica Moagi on 071 259 0328 or 010 016 8817.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Grobank
