Usethubeni Youth School achieves 100% pass rate in KZN's 2025 Correctional Services matric results
Nkosinathi Jabulani Gumede from Usethubeni Youth School, who achieved an impressive average of 85.5% with six distinctions, is set to pursue a career in Criminal Law.
Image: Facebook / The Department of Correctional Services
KwaZulu-Natal is celebrating a significant victory in correctional education, emerging as the top-performing region in the 2025 Correctional Services matric results.
Leading the charge is Durban’s Usethubeni Youth School, which achieved a perfect 100% pass rate.
This was revealed during the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results announcement and awards ceremony, at Goodwood Correctional Facility, Cape Town, on Monday.
Correctional Services Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald said 180 learners from 18 schools sat for the NSC examinations.
“The overall pass rate for Correctional Services schools in 2025 stands at an impressive 94.4%, once again surpassing the national average of 80%. Fifteen of our schools achieved a 100% pass rate, improving from 13 schools in 2024, and a total of 132 distinctions were earned,” Groenewald said.
“Two of our schools, Usethubeni in Durban-Westville in KwaZulu-Natal and Baviaanspoort in the Gauteng Region, have maintained a 100% pass rate for the past 10 years. We are also immensely proud of the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre School, which achieved a 100% pass rate.”
Correctional Services Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald acknowledges the outstanding performance of KwaZulu-Natal’s correctional schools during the 2025 NSC results announcement.
Image: Facebook / The Department of Correctional Services
Groenewald said KZN deserves special commendation for having the highest output of successful matriculants, with 50 learners achieving passes. Of this group, 45 attained Bachelor’s passes.
“Usethubeni alone accounted for 31 learners, all of whom achieved Bachelor’s passes. These results demonstrate that our focus is not merely on achieving a pass, but on producing quality outcomes,” Groenewald said.
Learners gathered at the Goodwood Correctional Facility to celebrate the remarkable achievements in correctional education.
Image: Facebook / The Department of Correctional Services
According to the department, 15 of the 18 Correctional Services schools achieved a 100% Grade 12 pass rate.
The schools that attained a 100% pass rate per region are as follows:
- Eastern Cape Region: Cradock, SADA School of Excellence, and St Albans.
- Free State and Northern Cape Region: Bokamoso Independent School and Liberty Independent School (both achieved a 100% Bachelor’s pass rate).
- Gauteng Region: Emthonjeni (100% Bachelor’s pass rate) and Johannesburg Female.
- KwaZulu-Natal Region: Usethubeni (100% Bachelor’s pass rate with 58 distinctions), Ekuseni, Qalakabusha, and Sicebengolwazi (100% Bachelor’s pass rate).
- Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West Region: Vuselela, Umlalati, and Thusano.
- Western Cape Region: Brandvlei.
Regional rankings:
- KwaZulu-Natal
- Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West
- Gauteng and Western Cape (tied)
- Eastern Cape
- Free State and Northern Cape
Nkosinathi Jabulani Gumede, a high-achieving learner from Usethubeni Youth School, plans to study Criminal Law.
Image: Facebook / The Department of Correctional Services
Nkosinathi Jabulani Gumede, from Usethubeni Youth School in Durban, finished his matric as a top achiever with an average of 85.5% after securing six out of eight distinctions:
- History - 93%
- Tourism - 92%
- Business Studies - 95%
- Life Orientation - 94%
- Geography - 87%
- IsiZulu Home Language - 91%
- English First Additional Language - 77%
- Mathematical Literacy - 55%
Gumede, who has already served four years for rape, plans to enroll in Criminal Law.
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za