The Minister of Correctional Services, Dr. Pieter Groenewald, says inmates achieved a 96.2% matric pass rate in 2024.

Groenewald announced the National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric results for inmates at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre. 171 inmates across 17 Correctional Service schools sat down to write the 2024 papers.

A fight with a very close friend changed the life of Bafana Bidi forever.

“I’m not proud. I murdered my friend. We were close by the way, may his soul rest in peace. We were fighting and we rolled. I had a knife and I stabbed him once in the heart and he died, unfortunately,” says Bidi.

Bidi is turning 22 and now on parole after receiving a murder sentence.

He spent his time in detention studying and is one of the 171 inmates that wrote the 2024 matric exams.

Bidi is also one of the top achievers with 6 distinctions.

“Rehabilitation, Correctional Services has done a lot for me. I’m in the third position nationally. So, I’m the best of them all. And to the community and those that I wronged, I hope they forgive me. And to the educators, I send my deepest condolences. I want to do psychology as my first option.”

Thirty-four-year-old Chaney van Heerden, who is convicted for murder, attained 4 distinctions.

“Today was the best day of my life. It was really an inspiration to move forward and do better as I go on. I’m just happy that they gave us the opportunity to actually be here today and celebrate because we are in prison. We don’t think about something like that. School gave me the opportunity to actually do something with my life. This is a new opportunity, a new beginning.”

Groenewald says the 96.2% pass rate is a 3% increase from the previous year.

“We have 13 of these 17 schools with 100%. There are 104 learners who can further study at universities. There is an increase of 3% on the passing rate from last year, and this is a record passing rate of 96.2%,” he says.

Groenewald also raised concern over the high rate of repeat offenders, stating that education is essential to help them turn their lives around.

“More should be done to educate parolees, so they don’t reoffend,” says Groenewald.

Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Regina Mhaule, says the inmates achieved remarkable results.

“What the inmates have done, their results have surpassed the national average. The inmates have all the time, even to regret why am I here. So, I want to do something that will change my life. They are preparing for their future outside there, especially the juvenile.”

Despite prison sentences, these inmates are determined to further their studies so they can have qualifications when they are reintegrated back into society.

#Educatetointegrate #correctionalservices #matric2024 pic.twitter.com/txau6nVGZn

— The Department Correctional Services 🇿🇦 (@DCS_ZA) January 17, 2025

2024 matric results announcement for inmates: