EDUCATION IS THE KEY INSTRUMENT IN ELIMINATING POVERTY” SAYS DEPUTY MINISTER ZIKALALA

Article by Andile Xulu and Pictures by Mahlogonolo Makwela

31 January 2026

In a decisive move to build a stronger nation through education, on 31 January 2026, Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala, who also serves as the District Development Model (DDM) Champion for the iLembe District, delivered a keynote address at the Matric 2025 awards ceremony held at Maphumulo Town Hall in KwaZulu-Natal. The ceremony was held under the theme “A hub for educational growth, innovation and excellence.”

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This follows the District’s impressive 91.5% pass rate, making the iLembe District one of the best performing Districts in the province, and ranking in 9th position nationally. These results reflect years of dedication, late nights, early mornings, and resilience from learners across the district.

The Matric Excellence Awards ceremony, hosted annually by the iLembe District Municipality was led by the Mayor for iLembe District Municipality Cllr Thobani Shandu. The awards ceremony commemorated 20 learners across the municipality who have performed exceptionally well during their matric year.

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In his keynote address, Deputy Minister Zikalala, specifically highlighted the importance of education to the learners. “Poverty is inherited from one generation to the other, you can change that by investing in education. Education is the future. Education is also a key instrument in eliminating poverty. Your hard work has paved the way for a bright future - this is just the beginning of your greatness, ”said the Deputy Minister.

Top achievers received a wide range of prizes sponsored by various partners, including the Provincial Department of Education and NYDA. The rewards included certificates, trophies and laptops awarded to the 20 learners.

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Of the 20 awarded learners, 3 have also received bursaries from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.