The Department of Basic Education (DBE), in partnership with Canva Africa, honoured South Africa’s top-performing districts, schools and education leaders at the 12th National Education Excellence Awards (NEEAs), held on 24 July 2026 at the NH Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg. Hosted under the theme: “Strong Foundations, Strong Futures,” the awards celebrated excellence across the basic education sector, recognising the individuals and institutions whose commitment continues to improve learner outcomes and strengthen public education.
The annual awards recognise achievement beyond National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, acknowledging excellence in district leadership, curriculum delivery, learner support, school management and continuous improvement. This year’s ceremony saw 51 trophies being awarded, with an equal number of gold, silver and bronze honours presented. Of the total, 27 trophies were presented to districts and 24 to schools. By recognising achievement across comparable contexts, the awards celebrate both sustained excellence and measurable progress whilst encouraging a culture of continuous improvement throughout the education system.
Basic Education Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule and Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, joined by senior DBE and provincial officials and education stakeholders, announced this year’s Gold Award recipients, recognising outstanding achievement across districts and schools nationally.
Amongst the district winners, Johannesburg West Education District in Gauteng emerged as one of the ceremony’s standout performers, receiving Gold Awards as the top-performing district serving up to 400 schools and for achieving the highest percentage of NSC Bachelor passes. Pinetown Education District in KwaZulu-Natal was recognised as the country’s top-performing district serving more than 400 schools, whilst Sarah Baartman Education District in the Eastern Cape received the award for Most Improved District. Tshwane South Education District in Gauteng earned top honours for Accounting and Mathematics participation and achievement, Cape Winelands Education District in the Western Cape was recognised for excellence in Physical Sciences, Eden and Central Karoo Education District received the award for Excellence in District Leadership and Management, and Metro Central Education District was honoured for Excellence in Support for Primary School Learning Outcomes.
School awards reflected excellence across South Africa’s diverse schooling contexts. Gold Awards were presented to Magotshwa Secondary School (Quintile 1); Mshadza Secondary School (Quintile 2); Centre of Science and Technology (Quintile 3); Menzi High School (Quintile 4); and Anton Lembede MST Academy (Quintile 5) as the country’s top-performing public schools within their respective quintiles. Dannhauser Primary Full-Service School was recognised as South Africa’s leading full-service school, while Jonguhlanga Primary School and Mvenyane Secondary School received top honours for the upkeep and maintenance of their school facilities, demonstrating the importance of creating safe, well-managed environments that enable effective teaching and learning.
Beyond the Gold Award recipients, the ceremony also recognised silver and bronze winners across all categories, reflecting excellence at every level of the basic education system. Recipients received certificates, trophies and additional prizes made possible through the support of the event’s valued partners, including Canva, Old Mutual, AVBOB, SAAB-Grintek, DBSA, Sanlam, NH Hotel, Zibuza, Santam, Mvula Trust, MTN and the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).
Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, closed the 12th National Education Excellence Awards with a powerful reminder that excellence is not a destination, but a commitment to continuous improvement. In acknowledging the success of the NEEAs, he extended his appreciation to the event’s valued partners and sponsors whose support continues to strengthen the celebration of excellence in basic education. Addressing the nation’s top-performing district DG Mweli challenged them to raise the bar even higher, encouraging the leading district to strive towards a 90% and above National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate. He reminded delegates that true excellence is measured not by surpassing others, but by continually surpassing yesterday’s achievements: “When we set higher standards for ourselves, we create greater opportunities for every learner”.
The 2026 National Education Excellence Awards once again demonstrated that educational excellence is built on strong leadership, dedicated educators, collaborative partnerships, and a shared commitment to learner success. From high-performing districts and outstanding schools to institutions driving meaningful improvement, this year’s winners embody the spirit of “Strong Foundations, Strong Futures,” setting a benchmark for sustained excellence across South Africa’s basic education sector.