By Abednigo Bangani

• The 2025 matric results reaffirmed the importance of sustained investment in social protection and strong inter-sectoral collaboration, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to succeed.
• Of the 927 143 matric learners who wrote their National Senior Certificate examinations in 2025, 68.5% were social grant beneficiaries.
• The results showed that 71% of the social grant beneficiaries who wrote the end-of-school exams earned passes that enable access to further education and training.

The Matric Class of 2025 has made history, achieving an 88% National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate, the highest in South Africa to date.

This milestone, marking a 0.7 percentage point increase from 2024, was celebrated nationwide when Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced the results on 12 January 2026 at the Mosaïek Church in Fairlands, Johannesburg.

Approximately 927 143 candidates wrote the National Senior Certificate examinations across all examining bodies, 68.5% (634 705 learners) are social grant beneficiaries, a slight decrease from 79% (697 502 social grant learners) in 2024.

These figures underscore the significant role government social assistance programmes play in supporting learners and advancing education as a tool to break the cycle of poverty.

In terms of achievement, out of the 634 705 social grant beneficiaries, 35.3% (224 086 learners) secured Bachelor’s passes, qualifying them for university studies.

Another 23.9% (151 495 learners) achieved Diploma passes, while 11.8% (74,942 learners) earned Higher Certificate passes.

Combined, 71% of social grant beneficiaries earned passes that enable access to further education and training, highlighting the positive impact of social protection interventions on learner outcomes.

Breaking it down by grant type, Child Support Grant beneficiaries made up the largest share of candidates and achievements, followed by Foster Care Grant beneficiaries, with Care Dependency Grant recipients forming a smaller but meaningful group.

Commenting on the results, the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Themba Matlou, congratulated the Class of 2025, praising their resilience and determination.

“The historic pass rate achieved by the Class of 2025 demonstrates what is possible when learners are supported and remain committed to their goals. We congratulate all matriculants on this outstanding achievement and encourage them to remain focused and confident as they pursue the next chapter of their lives.

“South Africa’s future is brighter because of disciplined, determined young people,” said Matlou.

SASSA, under the leadership of the Department of Social Development, continues to support vulnerable learners through social assistance programmes that promote access to education and improve learning outcomes.

The 2025 matric results reaffirm the importance of sustained investment in social protection and strong inter-sectoral collaboration, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to succeed.