​Qaqambile Mdledle
Tshwane South in Gauteng has retained its number one spot as the top-performing district for the 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with an average pass rate of 89,3 %.
The Johannesburg West district bagged the fourth spot in the top-performing district nationally with a 86.5% pass rate while Ekurhuleni South district took the fifth spot with 86.2%. 
The Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal province contributed to the greatest number of Bachelor passes with 117 704 between the two provinces. This is equivalent to 46.0% of the overall Bachelor passes nationally.
These numbers were revealed by the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga when she was announcing the 2021 matric results on Thursday evening.
The overall 2021 NSC examination pass rate is 76,4% an increase of 0,2 % from the 2020 class.  
The Free State is the leading province at 85.7 % an improvement of 0,6 % from the previous year. 
The province is followed by Gauteng with 82.8%, Western Cape 81.2%, North West 78.2%, KwaZulu-Natal 76.8%, Mpumalanga 73.6%, Eastern Cape 73%, Northern Cape 71.4%. and Limpopo is sitting at 66.7%. 
A total of 897 163 candidates sat to write the 2021 exam, an increase of 23% from 2020. 
An average of 36.4% of matric students achieved a bachelor's pass (2020: 36.4%), 25.2% achieved a diploma pass (2020: 26%), and 14.8% achieved a higher certificate pass (2020: 13.7%).
Motshekga said the class of 2021 was the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic which impacted the academic programme. 
These included a trimmed curriculum, segregated timetables which she said contributed to a hostile learning environment.
"The quality of results we achieved this year especially the number of bachelor and diploma passes are a motivation. You will agree with me that our system has been on a steady rise over the past years."
She said those candidates who did not do well in their examinations should not despair.
"Those who wish to improve their results should enrol for the Second Chance Matric Programme. Registration for the Programme will close on 15 February 2022. 
"Your future is in the palm of your hands, make the correct choices," Motshekga added.