Correctional Services celebrate matric success: meet the top achievers

Nkosinathi Jabulani Gumede, Jooste Tyrique and Nasen Christiano are among the top matric offender achievers from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).

The results were released on Friday during an awards ceremony at the Goodwood Correctional Facility, where Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald, lauded the achievements as a "deeply affirming" moment for both the department and the nation.

“Learning does not stop at prison walls, and hope, when nurtured through education, can flourish even in the most constrained environments,” Groenewald had said.

A total of 180 inmates from 18 DCS schools around the country sat for the 2025 National Senior Examination. Fifteen of the department's 18 schools recorded a 100% matric pass rate, while the DCS's overall pass rate was 94.4% with 132 distinctions. 

KwaZulu-Natal was named the top performing province - with the highest number of matriculants at 50. Forty-five of them achieved Bachelor passes.

- Gumede was named correctional services top achiever with 6 distinctions from 8 subjects.

"Nkosinathi Jabulani Gumede who has already served four years for rape finished his matric as a top achiever with average of 85.5% after securing 6 out of 8 distinctions," said a statement on the DSC Facebook page.

Gumede, from Usethubeni Youth School in Durban, attained the following marks: history 93%, tourism 92%, business studies 95%, life orientation 94%, geography 87%, IsiZulu home language 91%, English first additional language 77%, and mathematical literacy 55%.

He plans to enroll to study criminal law.

- Tyrique, from Emthonjeni Youth School in Baviaanspoort, Gauteng, placed second. He secured 6 distinctions from seven subjects with an average of 84.4%.

"He was sentenced to 5 years for robbery in December 2022 and released on parole after completing his matric exams. He started his academic journey behind bars with Grade 10 in 2023 and followed by Grade 11 in 2024. His academic excellence earned him the title of 'Head Boy' at the school."

Tyrique attained the following marks: business studies 93%, Afrikaans first additional language 90%, life orientation 89%, mathematical literacy 84%, economics 81%, tourism 86%, and English home language 68%.

- In the third spot was Nasen Christiano with 4 distinctions from 7 subjects.

"Despite being incarcerated for murder since 2018, Christiano committed himself to numerous rehabilitation programmes and chose to continue his education at Brandvlei Youth School in the Western Cape. Studying behind bars, he persevered against the odds and achieved an impressive 83% average in his matric results."

He attained the following marks: Afrikaans home language 77%, English first additional language 82%, mathematical literacy 88%, life orientation 88%, agricultural management practice 74%, agricultural technology 77%, and tourism 95%.

Christiano is set to continue his academic journey at the University of South Africa specialising in accounting.

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