On the morning of 14 January, Matric pupils in Dobsonville, Soweto, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their results, only to face an unexpected setback. Hundreds of students gathered at a Sasol petrol station, ready to celebrate the long-awaited moment. However, their excitement quickly turned to disappointment when they were informed that the newspapers, which were meant to deliver their results, had not arrived on time.
Despite the setback, the students, many accompanied by their parents, turned the situation into a celebration. Samukelo Ndlovu, who had been waiting since 10 PM the previous night, shared his mixed emotions. “We came here with our parents, who braved the cold to celebrate with us,” he said. Despite the absence of the newspapers, Samukelo had already checked his results online, discovering that he had passed with a Bachelorโs pass and one distinction. “Iโm not a hard worker, but I work smart and listen in class. Thatโs what worked for me,” he said, adding that he was excited to pursue studies in Emerging Technologies. “I can’t wait to share this good news with my parents,” he added with pride.
Another student, Paballo Motswane, was equally optimistic about his future. Despite feeling nervous, Paballo expressed his hope for a Bachelorโs or Diploma pass and his ambition to study Software Engineering. “Iโm anxious, but at the same time, Iโm relaxed. Iโm hopeful that my results will be great,” he said, looking forward to the opportunities ahead.

In a heartening development for township education, Forte Secondary School in Soweto celebrated a 100% pass rate for its 2024 Matric cohort. Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona took the opportunity to highlight the progress in local education, emphasizing that many students had achieved Bachelorโs passes. “Weโve made significant improvements in township education, and the results speak for themselves,” Mabona said. “We encourage both students and parents to continue believing in our commitment to enhancing education in the township.