Inmates serving in South African Correctional Facilities have registered an impressive 77,3% matric pass for the 2018 academic year. Just two percent lower than the 79,42% national average, this results represent a 1.4% increase from last year’s 76.7% pass rate.

1. Media Statement
5 January 2019
Matriculants behind bars score a 77,3% matric pass rate.
Inmates serving in South African Correctional Facilities have registered an impressive 77,3% matric pass
for the 2018 academic year. Just two percent lower than the 79,42% national average, this results
represent a 1.4% increase from last year’s 76.7% pass rate.
A total of 235 inmates sat for the National Senior Certificate examination. Of these, 185 wrote seven
subjects and above. Sixty seven received bachelors while 46 scored diplomas; with another 30 obtaining
higher certificate qualifications. One of the most notable is 52-year old Simelane Abdulla Elijah, the
eldest matriculant from a Department of Correctional Services (DCS) school in Barberton who also
achieved a bachelors pass.
A total of four DCS schools in Durban Westville, Cradock, Baviaanspoort and Rusternburg Correctional
Centres achieved a 100 percent pass rate. This is a third uninterrupted 100 percent pass for Usethubeni
School in Durban Westville. A total of 28 distinctions were recorded at the school. The top achievers
from DCS schools are:
Mpofana Nhlakanipho (80.43%) - Durban Westville Correctional Centre
Alexandra Jaime (79.43%) - Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre
Dziva Patson (77.29%) - Durban Westville Correctional Centre
Working together with the Department of Basic Education and other partners, DCS offers extra support
classes and strives to create the best suitable environment for learning and teaching.
"Education is a critical component of the rehabilitation measures of any correctional system. It has also
been proven that inmates who participate in educational programmes see the future differently as they
develop a more positive outlook," said the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Adv. Michael
Masutha.
He added: “The DCS will continue to do the best it can to ensure that as many inmates as possible are
able to access education to enable them to lead lives and productive and socially responsible members
of their communities upon their release.”
As with previous years, this year’s matric results illustrate the DCS sustained efforts at turning
correctional centres into places of learning for the benefit of inmates and, by extension, the community
as a whole.
Minister Masutha will preside over an award ceremony, honouring the 2018 top achievers at Durban
Westville Correctional Centre on 8 January 2019.
Ends.