The correctional service matric class of 2021 has obtained a 89.83% pass rate. This was announced by the minister of justice and correctional services, Ronald Lamola, on Monday January 24 at the Barberton Correctional Centre in Mpumalanga.

There are 191 inmates who registered and wrote the matric examination last year, of whom 147 passed.

Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West lead with the highest number of bachelor passes, totalling 21. “The department’s learners obtained 84 distinctions, of which 23 were in life orientation, 16 in tourism and 10 in business studies. “As if that was not enough, we recorded a 100% pass rate in six subjects, namely physical sciences, Afrikaans first additional language, English home language, isiZulu first additional language, Sesotho home language and religious studies,” said Lamola. The national top achiever is Faba Khanyile (23) who is serving a sentence at Brandvlei Youth Centre in the Western Cape. He obtained seven distinctions and is planning to study electrical engineering.

In Mpumalanga, Sifiso Sibanyoni (42) got a distinction in siSwati and he is the top inmate in the province.

He was arrested for murder and robbery. He is serving his sentence at Barberton Correctional Service at Medium B. According to him, preparing for his exams was not easy. Read more in the print edition of Mpumalanga News.