Record Results, Real Questions: What the 2025 Matric

Pass Rate Tells Us About Our Schools
South Africa is celebrating a historic milestone in
education. The Matric Class of 2025 has achieved the
highest National Senior Certificate pass rate on record
— 88%, with more than 656,000 learners passing and a
record 345,000 achieving bachelor’s passes. For the
first time ever, all 75 education districts across the
country recorded pass rates above 80%, and
provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and
Gauteng led the rankings.

Record Results, Real Questions: What the 2025 Matric
Pass Rate Tells Us About Our Schools South Africa is celebrating a historic milestone in education. The Matric Class of 2025 has achieved the highest National Senior Certificate pass rate on record &mdash; 88%, with more than 656,000 learners passing and a record 345,000 achieving bachelor&rsquo;s passes. For the first time ever, all 75 education districts across the country recorded pass rates above 80%, and provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Gauteng led the rankings.

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

EDUCATION EXPERT: PROFESSOR MARY METCALFE

Menstruation and reproductive health affect millions
of women and girls in South Africa — yet for many,
they remain daily struggles with far-reaching
consequences. Period poverty leaves girls missing
school and women unable to live with dignity, while
endometriosis, a chronic and often invisible condition,
can go undiagnosed for years, affecting education,
work, and quality of life.
Tonight, we examine these issues through a human
rights lens: how access to menstrual products,
healthcare, and awareness isn’t just a health matter —
it’s a question of equality, dignity, and justice. We’ll
explore what’s being done, where gaps remain, and
what needs to change to ensure that women and girls
can live fully without barriers imposed by their
biology.

Menstruation and reproductive health affect millions of women and girls in South Africa &mdash; yet for many, they remain daily struggles with far-reaching consequences. Period poverty leaves girls missing school and women unable to live with dignity, while endometriosis, a chronic and often invisible condition, can go undiagnosed for years, affecting education, work, and quality of life. Tonight, we examine these issues through a human rights lens: how access to menstrual products, healthcare, and awareness isn&rsquo;t just a health matter &mdash; it&rsquo;s a question of equality, dignity, and justice. We&rsquo;ll explore what&rsquo;s being done, where gaps remain, and what needs to change to ensure that women and girls can live fully without barriers imposed by their biology.

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Rights, Health, and Dignity

Water is a fundamental human right in South Africa, guaranteed by our Constitution of South Africa. Yet, as supply pressures mount and restrictions hit some areas, a difficult question arises: are we, the public, doing enough to protect it? Tonight, we explore the tension between rights and
responsibility. While some communities still struggle for clean, reliable water, others are accused of
overuse, waste and illegal connections. How do we balance access with accountability — and can South Africa sustain its water future without a major shift in
behaviour?

Water is a fundamental human right in South Africa,&nbsp;guaranteed by our Constitution of South Africa. Yet, as&nbsp;supply pressures mount and restrictions hit some&nbsp;areas, a difficult question arises: are we, the public,&nbsp;doing enough to protect it?&nbsp;Tonight, we explore the tension between rights and responsibility. While some communities still struggle&nbsp;for clean, reliable water, others are accused of overuse, waste and illegal connections. How do we&nbsp;balance access with accountability &mdash; and can South Africa sustain its water future without a major shift in behaviour?

Water Rights vs Responsibility ( Vanessa Stippel (Water Management Lecturer) - Emeris )

There’s growing concern at the pumps, with reports of
fuel shortages emerging in parts of the country — but
government is urging calm.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources
says fuel supply remains stable in the short term,
despite several petrol stations across provinces
including Gauteng and the Western Cape running out
of certain grades of diesel.
Behind this is a bigger global story. Rising geopolitical
tensions in the Middle East have pushed oil prices
above 100 dollars a barrel, creating uncertainty in
international markets and raising concerns about
supply chains worldwide.
Government says it has secured fuel shipments and
has plans in place to manage potential risks — but at
the same time, it is warning that South Africans could
soon feel the impact through higher fuel prices.
So tonight we ask:
Should South Africans be worried about fuel supply —
or is the real pressure still to come at the pump?

There&rsquo;s growing concern at the pumps, with reports of fuel shortages emerging in parts of the country &mdash; but government is urging calm. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources says fuel supply remains stable in the short term, despite several petrol stations across provinces including Gauteng and the Western Cape running out of certain grades of diesel. Behind this is a bigger global story. Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have pushed oil prices above 100 dollars a barrel, creating uncertainty in international markets and raising concerns about supply chains worldwide. Government says it has secured fuel shipments and has plans in place to manage potential risks &mdash; but at the same time, it is warning that South Africans could soon feel the impact through higher fuel prices. So tonight we ask: Should South Africans be worried about fuel supply &mdash; or is the real pressure still to come at the pump?

EDUCATION EXPERT: PROFESSOR MARY METCALFE

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