How social grants helped drive strong 2025 matric results

In a resounding endorsement of government’s social security system, over 614,000 social grant beneficiaries passed their matric exams in 2025, achieving an impressive 84.9% pass rate, Minister of Social Development Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe announced yesterday.

Speaking at the 2025 Grade 12 Social Grant Beneficiary Recognition and Report Launch in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, Tolashe credited the Child Support Grant (CSG) for playing a pivotal role in supporting academic success.

“These young people have carried the hopes of their families through years of schooling,” she said.

According to the minister, 84.2% of matriculants were social grant beneficiaries, with the national pass rate standing at 88%.

The data shows a notable increase from 74% in 2021, underscoring the positive impact of social grants on education outcomes.

Tolashe emphasised that social protection is a long-term investment in human development, breaking poverty cycles and strengthening household resilience.

“The evidence is clear, social protection works for our people,” she said.

She said many learners supported by social grants are the first in their families to access tertiary education, positioning them as catalysts for change within their communities.

The report on matric outcomes reinforces the role of child social protection as a practical partnership between government and households, aimed at promoting child development and educational achievement.

It also challenges the persistent misconception that the Child Support Grant is widely misused, instead affirming that it is largely directed at improving children’s well-being.

Tolashe reflected on the resilience of learners who have progressed through the education system with the support of social grants.

“What we are seeing is the outcome of decades of rigorous, data-driven analysis,” she said.

The minister’s comments were echoed by statistics showing that social grant beneficiaries are outperforming expectations. With thousands of learners accessing tertiary education, the CSG is clearly a vital component of South Africa’s efforts to end intergenerational poverty.

As the country celebrates the Class of 2025’s achievements, the government affirms its commitment to social protection as a key driver of human development and economic growth.

“Through our social protection measures, we are responding to the needs of our people,” Tolashe said.