There were cheers, ululations and whistles as the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, announced that KwaZulu-Natal has emerged as the top-performing province in the 2025 matric exams.
The province achieved an impressive 90.6% pass rate, setting a new benchmark for educational excellence in South Africa.
The Minister was speaking at the Mosaic Church in Randburg, Johannesburg, on Monday evening, where she announced the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results.
In her passionate address, the Minister emphasised the significance of this achievement, stating that these results represent not merely numbers but were a testament to the collective efforts of educators, learners, and communities nationwide.
“Over 656 000 learners passed the National Senior Certificate. That figure carries the effort of every teacher, every learner, families in every corner of our country,” the Minister said.
KwaZulu-Natal’s stellar performance is part of a broader national trend, with the country achieving its highest-ever pass rate of 88% – a 0 .7% increase from 2024.
KwaZulu-Natal is followed by the Free State, which achieved a pass rate of 89.33%.
Gauteng came next with a pass rate of 89.06%, followed by North West at 88.49%.
The Western Cape recorded a pass rate of 88.20%, and the Northern Cape achieved 87.79%, marking a significant improvement.
Mpumalanga had a pass rate of 86.55%, while Limpopo increased to 86.15%.
Finally, the Eastern Cape achieved a pass rate of 84.17%.
The Minister stressed that these results represent more than just academic success.
“The system is more stable, participation is improving, inclusion is expanding, integrity is holding firm.”
The Minister contextualised the achievement within a larger educational transformation agenda. “This is not a rejection of the past. It is crossing into new territory, informed by experience, guided by evidence, and anchored in foundations strong enough to carry the future.”
The success also underscores the deep connection between social grants and educational outcomes.
While more social grant beneficiaries wrote the NSC exams in 2025, 78% of these candidates passed, down from 86% previously.
The Minister noted that candidates with active social support performed significantly better, underscoring the importance of holistic support for learners.
To the Class of 2025, the Minister’s message was one of hope and resilience. “You have shown the country what is possible. You have proven that talent lives everywhere, and that when we strengthen the roots, hope becomes an outcome, not a slogan.”
Speaking to SAnew, KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka, demonstrated unwavering optimism and a strategic approach to overcoming systemic obstacles that his province faced last year.
“We convert challenges to solutions,” the MEC said, underlining the department’s commitment to excellence, despite financial constraints.
Addressing the critical issue of limited resources, Hlomuka shared a profound perspective on how the province navigated the financial crisis that also had a spillover effect on their school nutrition programme.
“Even from your home, you want many things, but you can’t get them. The little that you get, you appreciate it, and you use what you have.”
He believes that this philosophy extends directly to the education sector, where resourcefulness has become key to success.
The MEC said the provincial department’s strategy centres on comprehensive engagement, noting that “education is a societal matter. It needs everyone”.
Hlomuka said this approach involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including educators, parents, and unions, to create a holistic support system for learners.
“We’re not focusing only on Grade 12. We’re also focusing on foundation, because a house that doesn’t have a proper foundation, that house is deemed to fail,” the MEC explained, emphasising the importance of early educational support.
Despite significant budget challenges in 2025, the MEC remains optimistic.
The province has already begun the early opening of schools and is focusing on completing the syllabus ahead of time to allow for revision.
He expressed his gratitude to the teachers and learners who contributed to this achievement. – SAnews.gov.za
