12 October 2026
The African National Congress (ANC) Parliamentary Caucus, through its Basic Education Study Group, extends heartfelt well wishes and encouragement to the 2026 matriculants. Reaching this point reflects your resilience, discipline and determination. We know that behind this milestone are long nights of studying, sacrifices and moments when you had to find the courage to keep going. Be proud of how far you have come.
Your schooling journey has not always been easy. There may have been moments of uncertainty, disappointment and even days when you doubted yourself. Yet you kept going, and today you stand at the final stretch of your school journey. As you enter the examination room, remember how much you have overcome and trust in all that you have learned.
President Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Let these words ignite you through every examination paper you encounter. Remember to quit is not an option, instead this is the time to unleash your full potential. This is time to execute your tactics and lessons learned throughout the course of the year.
The ANC urges you to not fall into temptations of conducting yourselves outside the examination regulations and guidelines. Do not cheat, do not carry prohibited materials into the examination room and do not allow one difficult paper to discourage you from succeeding in the next. Equally, do not allow social media, unnecessary distractions, peer pressure or negative conversations to take your attention away from your objectives. Each examination is a new opportunity to demonstrate what you know.
Beyond these examinations lies a bright and exciting future. Embrace the post-school destination opportunities, as others will transit to universities, TVETs, entrepreneurship and workplaces. Pursue paths that link with your goals.
The ANC Basic Education Study Group reiterates to the Class of 2026 that the world is your oyster! We wish you the best and may you enter these examinations with confidence, discipline and courage. Remember that you are more than the results you will receive, and your contribution to our communities and our country is still unfolding.
ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS
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