Kaya 959 News
Justice and Correctional minister Ronald Lamola has announced a pass percentage of 86.3% for the 2020 matric class of inmates.
If part-time students are added to the overall tally, the pass rate is 81.3%.
Lamola made the announcement at the Leeuwkop Correctional Centre in Johannesburg.
He says the result is higher than the national average of 76.2% and also higher than the highest provincial percentage of 85.1%, attained by the Free State.
Lamola says the offenders also obtained a total of 76 distinctions and also produced 78 bachelor’s degree passes.
“When some of our inmates acquire distinctions in subjects such as mathematics, accounting, physical science and agricultural sciences, this can only mean that all individuals are capable of excellence, irrespective of the environment or situation they find themselves in,” he said.
READ: IEB matric class of 2020 record 98% pass mark
Top inmate
Lwazi Tshabeni, who registered at Durban’s Usethubeni Youth School, was named the top inmate from the class of 2020. He achieved an 80.6% pass mark.
Lamola says society should not judge inmates.
“Our responsibility is not to judge them and confine them to the dark books of life. But we need to ignite a sense of hope and renewal.”
Is SA’s “real” matric pass rate 44%
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance says South Africa’s real matric pass rate is 44.1%, not 76.2%.
“The fact of the matter is that the real matric pass rate is 44.1%, which is calculated by comparing the number of learners that enrolled in 2018, which was 997 872, to the number that wrote (578,468) and passed matric in 2020, 440,702 learners.
“This group of matrics started with 1,072,993 learners enrolled in 2009 as Grade 1s, which calculates to a real pass rate of 41%,” DA shadow minister of basic education Baxolile Nodada said in a statement.
Nodada added that the Western Cape “has the highest real pass rate at 55.8%”.
According to the official results released by Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, the Free State is the country’s leading province.
1. Free State (85.1%)
2. Gauteng (83.8%)
3. Western Cape (79.9%)
4. KwaZulu-Natal achieved (77.6%)
5. North West achieved (76.2%)
6. Mpumalanga achieved (73.7%)
7. Limpopo achieved (68.2%)
8. Eastern Cape achieved (68.1%)
9. Northern Cape achieved (66.0%)



