Social grant learners drive 2025 matric success, says minister in Mdantsane

More than 614,000 matric learners who wrote the 2025 National Senior Certificate exams were social grant beneficiaries, making up over 84% of all candidates, Social Development Minister Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe confirmed at an event in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape.

Speaking at the Grade 12 Social Grant Beneficiary Recognition and Report Launch, the minister said the strong performance of these learners shows a direct link between social grants and improved education outcomes. The national matric pass rate reached 88%, while grant beneficiaries recorded an 84.9% pass rate — a sharp increase from 74% in 2021.

The figures come from the Department of Social Development’s latest report, which positions the Child Support Grant as a key driver of long-term educational success. Government says the grant is not only short-term relief but an investment in breaking poverty cycles and strengthening families.

The event, held in Mdantsane, placed the Eastern Cape at the centre of the national conversation on education and social support. The province, which has long faced challenges linked to poverty and inequality, is now being highlighted as part of a national success story tied to social protection.

Minister Tolashe said research — both local and international — continues to show that social protection improves outcomes in education, health, and child development. She also pushed back against claims that grants are widely misused, stating the evidence shows they are largely spent on children’s wellbeing.

Many of the learners supported by grants are the first in their families to reach matric or qualify for tertiary education. This shift is expected to have long-term effects in communities across provinces like the Eastern Cape, where access to opportunities has historically been limited.

“What we are seeing is the outcome of decades of rigorous, data-driven analysis. The evidence is clear, social protection works for our people,” the minister said.

However, detailed provincial breakdowns of pass rates and performance were not provided in the statement. This has not been confirmed.

For families across Pondoland and the wider Eastern Cape, the data reinforces the role of social grants in keeping children in school and improving their chances of finishing matric. It also signals that continued support could be critical as more learners aim for university and TVET opportunities.

The Department of Social Development has not announced any new policy changes following the report but emphasised that social protection will remain central to government’s long-term development strategy.

We will update this story if more detailed provincial or district-level results are released.