Gauteng Education, Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Matome Chiloane announced that the Class of 2025 achieved an 89.06% pass rate, the highest pass rate in South Africa’s history.

The results were announced at the Telkom Head Office in Centurion on January 13.

He attributed this success to the “whole system reform” on how they improve all schools in a district, not just pockets of excellence. “To ensure effective teaching and learning, the focus of our strategies in Gauteng is geared towards the learners and the classroom as a unit of change. We ensure that classrooms are fully functional. We continue to demand accountability for results, particularly in chronically failing schools. The purpose is not to punish the management, teachers, and learners but to provide the right combination of incentives, support, and resources that will accelerate the changes needed to improve the quality of education in those schools,” explained MEC Chiloane.

@southern.courier All 15 districts achieve over 83% pass rate Gauteng received 89.06% and it is the highest ever performance by the matriculants Johannesburg region for the first time achieved 90.6% which is the highest in Gauteng Joburg West District is the top in the country with 96.2% pass rate, this is the third time in a row #MatricResults2025 #Gauteng #Johannesburg ♬ original sound – Southern Courier

Of the 140,927 learners who sat for examinations last year, 125,513 passed. This number represents 19% of all learners who wrote matric nationally. He said he was proud to mention that all 15 Gauteng districts performed above 83%, and it was for the first time.

MEC Chiloane raised his concerns about important subjects and the impact they have in the future of the learners.

“Let me speak honestly about what concerns me. Our mathematics pass rate declined from 72.7% to 66.7%. That is a six percentage point drop. Physical Science improved, but modestly, from 74.6% to 76.5%, a 1.93% increase. Life Sciences remained strong at 81.94%. These are gateway subjects. They open doors to scarce skills and economic participation. They determine access to engineering, to science, and to technical careers,” he said.

He urged everyone to continue to work with the same commitment in 2026.

“To every young person who did not get the result you hoped for, this is not where your story ends. You are not a failure. An exam does not determine your value; you sat in difficult circumstances. You have pathways. You have support. You have second chances through our supplementary exams in June, through modular programmes, through Secondary School Improvement Programme tutoring, and through alternative learning pathways. What matters now is that you take the next step, with support, without shame,” he noted.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi congratulated the Class of 2025, although he conceded that it was not the standard of Gauteng they hoped for; they accept the results.

“Congratulations to KwaZulu-Natal for taking position one. We can also do better; we must change the system to improve. I am proud of our district performance,” he said.

He also mentioned that he wants South Africa, where there will be one examination for all Grade 12s.

@southern.courier Ending his speech on a humorous note, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi referenced KwaZulu-Natal with the isiZulu phrase “eyamadoda ayipheli”, drawing smiles from the audience. MEC Lesufi congratulated the Class of 2025, although he conceded that it was not the standard of Gauteng they hoped for, however they accept the results. “Congratulations to KwaZulu Natal for taking position one. We can also do better, we must change the system in order to improve. I am proud about our district performance,” he said. #MatricResults2025 #Gauteng #Johannesburg ♬ original sound – Southern Courier

Premier Lesufi said it doesn’t make sense that there are still two exams (National Senior Certificate and Independent Examinations Board), whereas they are both evaluated by the same Umalusi, and they will go to the same tertiary institution, writing the same examination thereafter.

Schools from the South

There were mixed results for high schools in the South of Johannesburg.

The notably improved school is Kibler Park Secondary, with almost a 10% increase from 2024. Also, The Hill High, Kenilworth, Hoërskool President, Jordao, and Die Fakkel show significant improvement. Horizon High and Ridgeway Muslim maintained their 100% pass rate.

@southern.courier Gauteng Education, Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Matome Chiloane announced that the Class of 2025 achieved an 89.06% pass rate, the highest pass rate in South Africa’s history. The results were announced at Telkom Head office in Centurion on January 13. He attributed this success to the “whole system reform”, on how do they improve all schools in a district, not just pockets of excellence. “To ensure effective teaching and learning, the focus of our strategies in Gauteng are geared towards the learners and the classroom as a unit of change. We ensure that classrooms are fully functional. We continue to demand accountability for results, particularly in chronically failing schools. The purpose is not to punish the management, teachers and learners but to provide the right combination of incentives, support and resources that will accelerate the changes needed to improve the quality of education in those schools,” explained MEC Chiloane. #MatricResults2025 #Gauteng #Johannesburg ♬ original sound – Southern Courier

Local schools in 2025 and 2024 (in brackets):

• Kibler Park Secondary – 84.05% (74.5%);
• Diversity High – 70.06% (77.98%);
• Ridgeway Muslim – 100% (100%);
• Ithuba-Lethu Secondary – 94.36% (96.7%);
• Horizon International High –100% (100%);
• Kenilworth Secondary – 98.28% (97.3%);
• Sir John Adamson High – 85.51% (86.9%);
• Forest High – 80.69% (84.89%);
• Hoërskool Die Fakkel – 91.32% (88.99%);
• Hoërskool President – 95.04 (93.1%);
• Mondeor High – 86.76% (88.2%);
• Glenvista High – 87.77% (91.5%);
• Jordao College – 100% (95.8%);
• The Hill High – 88.89% (84.6%);
• Elethu Themba – 86.92% (93.1%).

@southern.courier All 15 districts achieve over 83% pass rate Gauteng received 89.06% and it is the highest ever performance by the matriculants Joburg West District is the top in the country with 96.2% pass rate, this is the third time in a row Johannesburg region for the first time achieved 90.6% which is the highest in Gauteng #MatricResults2025 #Gauteng #Johannesburg ♬ original sound – Southern Courier