Programme Director;
Acting Director-General, Mr Linton Mchunu;
CEO of SASSA, Ms Totsie Memela Khambule;
CEO of NDA, Ms Thamo Mzobe;
Senior managers from the DSD Portfolio in attendance both physically and those on our virtual platforms;
Ladies and gentlemen of the media;

Good morning and thank you for joining us at this media briefing session through which we will provide an update on the DSD Portfolio’s interventions during COVID-19.   

This media briefing is unfolding shortly after the announcement of the Grade 12 results by Minister Angie Motshega, the Minister of Basic Education. We have learnt that under very difficult circumstances, the Grade 12 learners worked hard to achieve a 76.2 percent national pass rate and this makes us proud as this occurred under very difficult time as brought upon by the global pandemic.

Let us also encourage learners who did not succeed by providing necessary support and guidance to them. Although the pass rate may have decreased, we cannot put the blame on anyone, as the whole country was operating under the “new normal” caused by COVID-19 and we would like to indicate that as the Department of Social Development, we are available to provide support to learners who may have not succeeded this time round.  

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