Special ministerial NSC awards for brave pupils who persevered By Okuhle Hlati Share Cape Town â The school career of a Strandfontein pupil, Erin OâConnor, changed dramatically four years ago after she was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer. By the time Erin OâConnor was in matric at South Peninsula High School last year, she was left with one kidney and had gone through chemotherapy, which she described as the worst experience. Despite being more at-risk during the Covid-19 pandemic than her fellow classmates, OâConnor made no excuses and attended every class and exam. She was honoured with a Special Ministerial Award yesterday at the National Senior Certificate awards, held at Premier Alan Windeâs Leeuwenhof residence.