For the first time in seven years, the Eastern Cape has crawled from the bottom of the pit and obtained a 70.6% matric pass rate.
In the previous matric year, the province they came in second last in the class.
This evening, basic education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that the Eastern Cape managed and improved by 5.6% points from last year's 65.8% pass rate.
Speaking at the official national announcement of the results, Motshekga congratulated the province on a remarkable achievement.
"We must applaud the Eastern Cape for joining the 70% performance club, which includes the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. With the progressed (fast-tracked) learners excluded, the Eastern Cape had the largest performance improvement, while Limpopo had the third largest performance improvement," she said.
The minister credited the improvement to learner support programmes and other interventions that the province implemented.
"I must particularly single out the Eastern Cape. Despite the challenges they are faced with, especially the contestations related to the rationalisation of small and unviable schools, under the leadership of MEC Mandla Makupula (may his dear soul rest in peace), the Eastern Cape has managed to rollout a variety of strategic learner support programmes.
"The province has now taken off, and it is about to reach its cruising height. I wish to encourage the executive and administrative leadership of the Eastern Cape, to keep the fires burning, in memory of MEC Makupula’s unobliterable and unforgettable legacy," she said...