Premier Panyaza Lesufi
By Lerato Mpembe
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has called for the unification of South Africa’s examination systems, advocating for a single national exam to replace the current division between the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examinations Board (IEB). Speaking at the recent announcement of Gauteng’s 2024 matric results in Midrand, Lesufi emphasised the need for fairness and equality in the education system, highlighting the disparities caused by financial and structural inequalities.
Gauteng’s Record-Breaking Matric Results
The 2024 matric results have been historic for Gauteng, with the province achieving an 88.4% pass rate, its highest since 1995. Over 130,000 pupils sat for the NSC exams, with 52.3% achieving Bachelor passes, a significant increase from 44.3% in 2023. These results showcase the effectiveness of Gauteng’s investment in education and targeted interventions, especially in township schools.
Township schools, often under-resourced, achieved an impressive 85.3% pass rate, up from 83.3% the previous year. These achievements were celebrated at an awards ceremony, where Musawenkosi Buthelezi from Zimisele Secondary School in Kwa-Thema was named Gauteng’s top-performing pupil. His journey from a challenging background to academic excellence symbolises the potential of township education.
Breaking Barriers: Musawenkosi Buthelezi’s Inspiring Story
Musawenkosi Buthelezi, the first learner from a township school to receive the coveted top achiever award, achieved a remarkable 299 out of 300 in mathematics. Despite the challenges of living in an RDP house shared with ten family members, Buthelezi’s determination to overcome adversity and break the cycle of poverty in his family stood out.
“I would say it wasn’t easy at all facing financial difficulties and not having emotional stability—a family of 11 living in an RDP. I had to wait for everyone to go to sleep so that I could study. Sometimes even that was not possible,” Buthelezi shared.
He credited his success to his resilience and a strong desire to create a better future for his family, who rely on social grants and the modest income of his sister.
Premier Lesufi’s Vision for Education Equality
Premier Lesufi praised Buthelezi’s achievement, calling it a testament to the Gauteng government’s commitment to providing quality education to all learners, regardless of their socio-economic background. He reiterated his belief in the potential of township schools and their ability to produce top achievers.
“We were tired of seeing learners leaving townships to go to school in urban areas. When they have to play sports, they go on taxis to come home. For the first time, the top learner comes from the township without using anything, just pure marks. This, to me, is a return on investment,” said Lesufi.
The Case for a Unified Examination System
Lesufi, along with Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, strongly advocated for consolidating the examination systems into a single national framework. Chiloane highlighted the inequities created by financial disparities between private and public schools, calling for an end to divisions that perpetuate inequality.
“For me, whether you pay R200,000 for your children to go to school or for free, this year they are going to be sitting next to each other at Wits,” Chiloane said, emphasising that financial status should not determine academic outcomes or opportunities for higher education.
Lesufi echoed this sentiment, stating, “Even at university we get to write the same exam. So we are saying why do we not prepare our learners early, have them write the same exam at university but they can’t do that in high school?”
Addressing Systemic Inequities
The call for a unified system comes against the backdrop of benchmarking studies that reveal public school learners struggle with reading comprehension compared to their private school counterparts. Lesufi argued that merging all educational sectors under one examination system would ensure a consistent benchmark, fostering fairness and equity.
“When you do benchmarking for South Africa’s education system, they say public school learners cannot read for meaning, they do not incorporate the IEB because we have different sectors of education,” Lesufi noted. He believes that a unified system will level the playing field and ensure all learners are evaluated under the same standards.
Celebrating District and School Successes
Gauteng’s districts also celebrated notable achievements. Johannesburg West emerged as the top-performing district with a 97% pass rate. Even the lowest-performing district achieved an impressive 88% pass rate, reflecting the overall improvement in the province’s education system.
Luferheng Secondary School in Johannesburg South recorded a 100% pass rate, with 97% of its students achieving Bachelor passes, further highlighting the potential of under-resourced schools to excel.
The Role of the BELA Act in Transforming Education
Lesufi also touched on the Gauteng government’s plans to fund the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, which introduces significant changes to the education system. The Act gives provincial governments greater control over school admission and language policies, aiming to address systemic inequalities.
“Whether they are still putting up the regulations or whatever, we are budgeting for the implementation of BELA in Gauteng from 2025. We are putting the budget to ensure that all our children are equal and we will put our resources to deal with this,” Lesufi said.

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