Matric pupils are generally a naughty bunch, running the schoolyard and looking for mischief at every turn. Usually when you hear about a high school pupil nicking a car it’s to drive away from school, something that makes this story buck the trend.

Meet 20-year-old Le-Aan Adonis, a matric student who was determined to get his classmates to their exam on time and commandeered a schoolbus to do so. He is now being hailed as a hero by some, with IOL carrying this report:

The worried matriculant decided to take matters into his own hands when their bus driver failed to show up.

He got behind the wheel of the idling vehicle, but just a few hundred metres from Hawston Secondary School [in Betty’s Bay], a shocked traffic cop pulled him over.

Donovan Hanekom, owner of Hanekom’s Transport, says the driver was late because of car trouble.

Adonis was handed a R5 000 fine for his exploits, although the Betty’s Bay community have rallied behind the young man in an effort to raise the funds to cover those costs.

Advocate Lennit Max has promised to represent Adonis at the school’s disciplinary hearing, with the pupil claiming he was only trying to help:

Adonis says he didn’t realise the implications of his actions.

“I just thought I would have to rewrite the subject if we were late,” he said.

The desire to learn is strong with this one, here’s hoping he can get back to finishing off school without too much hassle.

[source:iol]