A Mitchells Plain learner had her own dream matric ball after she claimed she had been bullied and excluded by her school.
Beyonce Davids, 18, from Westridge, is no stranger to grief, after she lost her brother Chauncey Davids seven years ago.
She also appeared in the Daily Voice this year when she spoke out about being exposed to Covid-19 positive cases at Mondale High School.
Chauncey, who was 14 and in Grade 9, died at his home in May 2014 after an experiment with chemicals went wrong.
Beyonce was 10 years old at the time and vowed to one day complete her schooling journey in honour of her boeta.
After her Covid awareness stand in August, Beyonce said she was victimised and bullied at school, and was excluded from her matric classmates’ ball.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond told Daily Voice at the time that Mondale principal, Owen Bridgens, confirmed that no learner was forced to come to write the tests.
And learners could not be given the option to write exams if they have tested positive.
Beyonce’s mom Beverly decided to arrange a private celebration for her.
She says: “Due to Covid-19 in 2020, we realised that a school matric ball in 2021 would be impossible, so we started planning something small for Beyonce in December 2021.
“Her classmates started planning a ball in November but due to speaking out about the Covid protocol that was floated at her school in August/September this year, she was excluded.
“We, her family and Chauncey’s friends, got together and put something special together for her.
“Beryl Modack made her beautiful rose gold dress, her cousin JP Duminy was going to be her driver but due to cricket, he had to fly to Johannesburg on the morning of her ball, so he gave his matt black Audi Q2 car for the day.
“Our family friends, Owen and Cindy Mbundu at Atlantic Beach Golf Estate in Melkbosstrand offered their home for her to get dressed, where another family friend Eben Geldenhuys did her matric shoot.
“These were all presents to Beyoncé. Our group was limited due to Covid but we had to do it because Beyoncé worked very hard to finish matric for both her and Chauncey.”
Beyonce said: “It was really an unexplainable, unbelievable experience, my mom really did the most to make my day amazing and I’m truly grateful.
“Chauncey never got to do it, I wrote exams for the both of us, so I graduated for the both of us and he was definitely remembered on this day.”