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Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga says a total of 73.9% of matric pupils passed in 2012 - this is an improvement on the 70.2% pass rate in 2011.
Gauteng had the highest pass rate at 83.9%.
The Eastern Cape had the lowest pass rate at 61.6%, followed by Limpopo on 66.9%, Mpumalanga 70%, KwaZulu-Natal 73.1 %, Northern Cape 74.6%, the Free State 81.1%, and North West had a 79.5% pass rate.
There was a slight decline in the Western Cape from 2011's 82.9% to 82.8% in 2012.
