Cape Town – KwaZulu-Natal has emerged as South Africa’s leading province in the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations, achieving an impressive 90.6% overall pass rate, according to results announced this week.
The province not only topped the national rankings but also produced the highest number of bachelor passes in the country, marking a historic milestone for education in the region.
At the Durban International Convention Centre, KwaZulu-Natal’s Education MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, spoke about the achievement with both pride and realism.
“It feels good to be the number one province,” he said, emphasising that the success was not just about statistics but reflected the efforts of learners and educators working under difficult conditions.
“The province of hope, because we remain hopeful even in many hopeless situations facing the Department of Education.”
KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka gives a breakdown of district performances, saying no district performed below 80%. pic.twitter.com/rrNmLPhB7O
— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) January 13, 2026
Hlomuka stressed that KwaZulu-Natal’s success came despite ongoing challenges such as classroom overcrowding, infrastructure shortages, and rapid population growth.
“We have limited resources, but our educators and learners are committed,” he said, highlighting the perseverance behind the results. “What makes KwaZulu-Natal’s results remarkable is that the quality comes from the ground … from schools that lack resources.
Nationally, South Africa recorded an 88% matric pass rate for the Class of 2025, the highest in the country’s history, according to the Basic Education Minister. KwaZulu-Natal’s performance helped drive this record, with other provinces like the Free State and Gauteng following at 89.33% and 89.06% respectively.
“Over 656 000 learners passed the National Senior Certificate,” the minister said at the announcement, adding that these figures represented the collective contribution of teachers, families and communities across the country.
The strong results have also drawn praise from political leaders and education stakeholders beyond KwaZulu-Natal.
WATCH | Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has congratulated the top achievers of the matric class of 2025, commending their dedication, resilience, and excellence. pic.twitter.com/dcMELGsoh8
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 12, 2026
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
