In Picture: MEC Matome Chiloane
Opinion By Edgar Legoale
In a country where education shapes the future of millions, strong leadership at provincial level makes all the difference. As we kick off 2026, with the class of 2025 matric results just around the corner, it is clear to me that Gauteng’s MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, stands head and shoulders above the rest. Sure, other provinces have their wins, but Chiloane’s hands-on approach, focus on real-world challenges, and steady improvements in a tough urban setting make him the top pick right now. He is not just managing schools—he is building a system that works for everyone, from township kids to city learners. Let me break it down why I think he is the best education MEC South Africa has at the moment.
Gauteng’s Impressive Track Record Under Chiloane
Since taking the reins in 2022, Chiloane has steered Gauteng’s education department through some rough waters, and the results speak for themselves. Look at the 2024 matric pass rate: Gauteng hit 88.4%, up from 85.4% the year before. That put the province in third place nationally, behind Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, but ahead of heavyweights like the Western Cape at 86.6%. And this is no fluke—Gauteng has climbed steadily, with more learners earning bachelor passes that open doors to university.
What sets Chiloane apart is how he celebrates the hard work behind these numbers. In December 2025, he praised the dedication of teachers and learners across the province, calling them “Team Gauteng.” He even hosted the Gauteng leg of the National Teaching Awards in October 2025, honouring over 45 top educators from a pool of more than 100,000. These moves show he values the people on the ground, not just the stats. Plus, with a massive budget of R68 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, he has pushed funds into key areas like school infrastructure and learner support, ensuring no child gets left behind in South Africa’s economic hub.
Mastering the Chaos of Urban Education
Gauteng is not like other provinces—it is packed with over 2,000 schools, millions of learners, and unique headaches like rapid urban growth and diverse communities. Chiloane has tackled these head-on. Take school placements: every year, parents stress about getting their kids into Grade 1 or 8. In November 2025, he held a media briefing to update on progress for 2026 admissions, cutting down unplaced learners to a tiny number through an efficient online system. By late 2025, only a handful of spots were left unresolved, a far cry from past years’ chaos.
He has also made schools safer, declaring them “safe havens” and rolling out measures to protect learners and staff. In a keynote speech in November 2025, Chiloane stressed how education builds responsible citizens, linking it to broader goals like reducing crime and boosting the economy. And let us not forget his push for township schools to shine—he promotes them as top performers to bust the myth that only former Model C schools deliver quality. This has eased placement pressures and built pride in local communities. No other MEC handles such scale with this level of detail and care.
How He Stacks Up Against the Rest
Do not get me wrong—other MECs are doing solid work. Free State’s Dr Julia Maboya deserves a nod for her province’s top spot in 2024 with a 91% pass rate, especially as a rural area often seen as under-resourced. She has set a bold 95% target for 2025, focusing on literacy hubs and volunteer support. KwaZulu-Natal’s team pushed to 89.5%, investing in rural schools and exam prep. The Western Cape hit its highest ever at 86.6%, with strong bachelor passes.
But here is the thing: these provinces face fewer urban pressures. Gauteng deals with high migration, budget cuts from national level, and the need to feed and transport thousands of learners daily. Despite scholar transport and nutrition programme reductions in 2025, Chiloane prioritised keeping teachers in classrooms and sustaining operations. He openly criticised those cuts while finding ways to make do. In contrast, some provinces struggle with audit issues or slower equity gains. Chiloane’s ability to deliver consistent rises—Gauteng produced the national top matriculant in 2024 and claimed the number one district in Johannesburg West—shows real leadership in a complex setup.
Nationally, the 2024 pass rate hit a record 87.3%, with all provinces above 80% for the first time. KwaZulu-Natal led in bachelor passes at 10.8%, followed by the Western Cape and Gauteng. But Chiloane’s Gauteng punched above its weight with 66,000 bachelor passes, proving his strategies work even in a bustling metropolis.
A Vision That Puts Learners First
What really makes Chiloane the best is his forward-thinking mindset. In October 2025, he signed the National Senior Certificate Pledge alongside learners, committing to integrity and hard work for the 2025 exams. As the countdown to results release builds excitement, he has wished families well for the holidays, reminding everyone that education is a team effort involving parents, guardians, and communities.
He urges families to support schools, especially as the 2025 year wrapped up, and hosts events like the Johannesburg West District Summit to empower learner leaders. Looking ahead, with targets for even higher passes in 2025, Chiloane is positioning Gauteng to lead in innovation, like digital learning and skills for the job market. In a country still healing from apartheid’s unequal education, his focus on equity—lifting township schools and ensuring every child has a fair shot—is what South Africa needs more of.
In my view, Matome Chiloane is not just the best MEC right now; he is a blueprint for what education leadership should look like. Other provinces have strong performers, but none match his blend of grit, vision, and results in such a demanding environment. As we await the 2025 matric outcomes, I am betting Gauteng will shine again under his watch. South Africa would be better off if more leaders followed his lead.
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