The current reign started in 2019 when it achieved an 88.4% matric pass rate, in 2020 the province achieved a pass rate of 85.1%, outclassing all other provinces. Last year, with the 2021 pass rate, the province yet again outperformed all the other eight provinces with a pass rate of 85.7%. In 2021, the province also showed an improvement of 0.6% from 2020.

The Free State was the top performer in five of the past six years. The Western Cape was the best in 2015, but from 2016 to 2021, the Free State has held the top position in five of the six years, with Gauteng slightly overtaking the Free State in 2018. 

In 2021, the Free State further has two districts among the highest-performing districts across the country. The second-best district in the country is the Motheo District with an 87.9% pass rate whilst the Fezile Dabi District is in third place countrywide with an 87.5% pass rate. 

Meanwhile, the Namaqua District in the Northern Cape is also a leading district in the province with an 81.2% pass rate, ranking it 20th nationally. Bojanala Platinum in the North West is the leading district in that province, with an 81.6% pass rate, ranking it 18th nationally. 

According to the Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, the results this year show that there are more distinctions, more bachelor passes, and more girls sitting to write the exams.

"There were 146 156 female candidates who obtained Bachelor passes – an improvement of 21.4% from 2020; while 109 875 male candidates obtained Bachelor passes – an improvement of 20.7% from 2020. Some 93 868 female candidates obtained Diploma passes – an improvement of 16.7% from 2020; while 83 704 male candidates obtained Diploma passes – an improvement of 19.1% from 2020," Motshekga added.

These are the top-performing districts in the country:

1st place is Tshwane South from Gauteng with 89.3%;

2nd place is Motheo in the Free State with 87.9%;

3rd place is Fezile Dabi in the Free State with 87.5%;

4th place is Johannesburg West in Gauteng with 86.5%;

5th place is tied with Ekurhuleni South in Gauteng and Metro North in the Western Cape with 86.2%;

7th place is Lejweleputswa in the Free State with 85.6%;

8th place is Xhariep in the Free State with 85.5%;

9th place is Johannesburg North in Gauteng with 84.9%; and

10th place is Eden and Central Karoo in the Western Cape with 84.4%.

OFM News