Try GOLD - Free
Parliament votes to keep 30% school pass mark
Cape Argus
|December 04, 2025
PARLIAMENT has voted to retain South Africa's 30% school pass threshold, closing the door on a proposal to abolish it after a heated debate in the National Assembly.
Mmusi Maimane confirmed the outcome on Tuesday evening.
“We lost the vote to end 30% as a pass mark at any level in our public education system.”
He criticised the parties that opposed the change. “The following parties voted to keep Bantu education standards - ANC, DA, Freedom Front Plus, PA and Al Jama-ah. They hugged incompetence and embraced mediocrity. Now SA knows.”
This story is from the December 04, 2025 edition of Cape Argus.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Cape Argus
Cape Argus
How tensegrity holds nations together
NEARLY a century ago a first dedicated attempt was made to describe a mind-boggling scientific principle in structural design and construction - the principal of “tensional integrity”.
3 mins
December 05, 2025
Cape Argus
Knysna steps up water restrictions as crisis deepens
KNYSNA has ramped up its drought response by moving to level four water restrictions, as the municipality formally declared the Garden Route town a water-stressed zone.
2 mins
December 05, 2025
Cape Argus
Thobejane slams praise for ex Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala: ‘PR can’t erase real crimes’
SOUTH African actress Tebogo Thobejane has broken her silence after seeing her former boyfriend, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, grab attention online during his recent appearance before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee.
1 mins
December 05, 2025
Cape Argus
Plan to repatriate 27 000 foreign national prisoners
CORRECTIONAL Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has confirmed that his department is working towards the repatriation of approximately 27000 foreign nationals currently incarcerated in South African prisons.
2 mins
December 05, 2025
Cape Argus
Epstein's private island exposed
DEMOCRATS in the US Congress released photos and videos this week showing the luxury island home where convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein allegedly forced underage girls into sex with powerful men.
1 mins
December 05, 2025
Cape Argus
Calls for action on 'problem building' in Rocklands
THE SAPS has confirmed that regular search and seizures are taking place at the residence in Rocklands where nine-year-old Zechariah Matthee, his aunt, Cleo Bailey, and Mousheen Daniels were killed and two others wounded.
2 mins
December 05, 2025
Cape Argus
Cape Town drops to 4th place in Africa rankings
CAPE Town has dropped from first to fourth place in Jeune Afrique’s 2025 ranking of Africa’s 30 most attractive cities, even as new data shows the Western Cape powering South Africa's tourism rebound.
1 min
December 05, 2025
Cape Argus
Illegally occupied buildings part of criminal siege
SOUTH Africa's violence has become so routine that each new killing barely disrupts the national conversation.
1 mins
December 05, 2025
Cape Argus
Trial postponed after Smit breaks down in court again
AFTER submitting a handwritten apology for her previous emotional breakdown, murder-accused Zurenah Smit became inconsolable again in court yesterday, leading the judge to postpone her trial until next year.
1 mins
December 05, 2025
Cape Argus
Rassie focuses on World Cup prep as Boks plan 2026 balance
SPRINGBOK coach Rassie Erasmus says his biggest challenge in 2026 will be getting the balance right between maintaining winning momentum and ensuring his top players are relatively fresh for the 2027 World Cup.
2 mins
December 05, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size
