The Western Cape’s Class of 2024 has achieved its highest matric pass rate to date, with 86.6% of candidates passing their National Senior Certificate. This is a 5.1 percentage point increase from last year. Announcing the Western Cape results, MEC David Maynier stated the province also secured its best-ever bachelors pass rate at 47.8%, reflecting the growing quality of academic outcomes.
Meyer stated the Western Cape students led the country in mathematics and physical science pass rates, at 78.0% and 79.4%, respectively. A remarkable 27,948 subject distinctions were awarded, the highest in the province’s history, and 3,800 more students passed their matric exams compared to 2023.
He stated Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) also excelled, with a 91.0% pass rate and the highest bachelors pass rate in the country at 63.3%.
The Western Cape’s achievements were celebrated on the national stage, with four matric students receiving top awards, including Pinelands High School’s Rayyan Ebrahim named South Africa’s top candidate.
Top performers:
• Top candidate in South Africa: Rayyan Ebrahim – Pinelands High School
• Top candidate in Quintile 5:
1st place: Rayyan Ebrahim – Pinelands High School
2nd place: Matthew Christopher Wise – Pinelands High School
3rd place: Nicholas David Schreiber – Rondebosch Boys’ High School
• Top candidate in South African Sign Language:
2nd place: Jordan Raubenheimer – De La Bat School