Cleo Fortuin has praised the contributions from her father, Mark and mother Grizelle, in her impressive matric performance this year. Picture - Tracey Adams/African News Agency (ANA)
Crime. Drugs. Gangsterism. Near-daily shootings.
Manenberg on the Cape Flats has long been infamous for all of the above.
But most residents will tell you, the area is about a lot more than the unflattering crime statistics and the negative headlines.
On Friday the Weekend Argus witnessed an incredible sense of camaraderie in “The Kraal” when locals all chipped in to give one of Manenberg's star pupils the perfect matric ball.
Cleo Fortuin, 18, has for most of her schooling career, scored top marks and scooped awards.
Fortuin lives in a wendy house with her parents, on the property of a family friend.
They’ve called the wooden structure home for the past 15 years.
Surrounded by crime and relative poverty, they soldiered on.
Despite their circumstances, Cleo immersed herself in her academics.
She is on course to close her final schooling year at The Leadership College with impressive results.
She was one of the top 10 pupils at her school in June with a 92% for Maths Literacy and 86% for Life Sciences. And with marks like these, it's little wonder.
Fortuin did arrive late for school earlier in the year when gangsters were shooting at each other early in the morning.
“And one Saturday as well, I couldn’t go to classes because it was dangerous and we (my dad and I) would have had to walk through Manenberg," she said.
With schoolmates dropping out because of pregnancy, or failing, Fortuin remained focused, her eyes firmly on the prize – and that is becoming a qualified psychologist.
It’s the career path that has been top of mind ever since a school event in Grade 10.
“I was one of those very clichéd children who wanted to be a doctor.
“And then at a career day at my school I started researching other career choices," she told Weekend Argus.
“And there was a lot I wanted to do.
“So I was weighing up the pros and cons of journalism, law, social work, and psychology.
“And then I decided on psychology, because that is what I want to do most and I think that is where I will have the most impact.
“I want to abolish the stigma around mental health and around therapy.
“And I want to provide professional help to children from areas like mine.
“And children who don’t have the necessary resources or funds to get help for their mental illnesses.”
Conditional offers from two of the Western Cape’s leading universities are already on the table.
They are Stellenbosch University and UCT.
Fortuin, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, speaks glowingly about her parents Grizelle and Mark’s role in her success.
“I don't think I would have been here without them. When I look at everyone around me, I feel like if they had the parents I had, they could have accomplished so much more.
“I owe my parents the world.
“And if I could, I would give them the entire earth.”
Her folks have been hard at work planning her matric ball.
And it really has been a team effort.
“My mom worked overtime to pay for my dress,” says Fortuin.
“My best friend's mom bought me shoes.
“I sold some of my text books from last year and that money was for my hair and nails.”
Dad and friends handled the decorations, and the community chipped in for the rest – snacks, photographer and transport.
Fortuin is optimistic about her pending matric results saying: “I want my (matric) results to exceed my expectations.”
And then it is full steam ahead getting her professional career plans on track.
“I want a doctorate in psychology.
“I just want to put my parents in a beautiful home, because that is what they deserve,” she says.