Silikamva High shine in 2025 matric results

The Western Cape recorded its highest-ever matric pass rate for the Class of 2025, achieving an impressive 88.2%, improving on last year's 86.6%.

Western Cape pupils excelled in the mathematics field, recording a pass rate of 73.7% and also delivered the second-highest physical science pass rate nationally, recording an 80.6%.

Nationally, more than 900,000 pupils wrote the 2025 NSC examinations at approximately 6,000 centres across the country, with 656,000 pupils successfully passing their exams. Of these, 345,000 passed with a bachelor's pass, representing a slight decline from 48% to 46%.

In Hout Bay, for the first time since opening its doors in 2013, Silikamva High School achieved a 100% pass rate, continuing its rapid improvement since 2023, when it produced a 93.3% pass rate, followed by a 94.4% in 2024.

Silikamva High School is a Quintile 3 no-fee school and struggled in the past with its results. In 2019, they achieved a pass rate of just 40.4%.

Silikamva High School principal, Siphathisiwe Nkahla-Nkohla, was delighted with the results and commended the teachers and pupils for their efforts.

"Our results are a reflection of the strong academic culture we have inculcated as a school, the use of data to improve results, the commitment of our educators, and the support of parents and our school operating partner," she said.

"We are proud of what has been achieved."

Onako Qhekeka from the Eastern Cape was Silikamva High School's top performer, producing codes 6 and 7.

"As a principal, I am ecstatic and proud of our 2025 matrics. I am already looking forward to starting the year with the 2026 matrics," Ms Nkohla said.

Western Cape Education MEC, David Maynier, visited the school on Tuesday, January 13, to celebrate with the school.

Mr Maynier said the department was happy to see improvements across no-fee school quintiles, with all of them increasing their pass rates and achieving more than 80%.

"The school's name means 'we are the future', and with matric results like these, that future is very bright."

Hout Bay High School experienced a major drop in its results, from 93.6% in 2024 to 62.9% in 2025.

Hout Bay High School principal Emilton Cloete said, although the school was disappointed, he commended the pupils who passed.

"Let's not forget to mention those pupils who passed, because we are focusing on the disappointment only. We are not happy with the results, but we will do everything to change in 2026," he said.

Mr Cloete confirmed that only 23 out of the 62 managed to pass this year, with only seven distinctions achieved.

"Our focus is going to be on building, and we will focus on the earlier grades like 9 and 10, and not only the matrics. Because essentially, we will create a better group of matrics for the future," Mr Cloete said.

For the first time in the country's history, all 75 education districts in the country managed to achieve a pass rate above 80%.

National Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, announced the record national pass rate of 88%, highlighting that it represented a steady 0.7% increase from 2024.

The Western Cape landed fifth, with a pass rate of 88.2%, on the provincial ranking, behind the likes of the North West with 88.49%, Gauteng with 89.6%, Free State with 89.33% and in first place, KwaZulu-Natal, with a 90.6%.

Hout Bay community worker, Kenny Tokwe, applauded the efforts of Silikamva, saying: "It's a blessing to our future."

"Education is a direct step toward a better future. A winning nation is a reading nation. Their results were amazing, and I want to congratulate the teachers and pupils and the community at large who gave their support," Mr Tokwe said.

"It makes us really proud as a community to achieve such results in this very challenging environment in our community."