As part of her ongoing campaign, the Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule, visited Star College in Bridgetown, Cape Town, in the Western Cape Province on 12 February 2026. The visit forms part of the DBE’s continued national outreach programme aimed at strengthening teaching and learning, promoting learner wellbeing, and reinforcing the importance of collaboration between schools, parents, and communities.

During her engagement, the Deputy Minister interacted with school leadership, educators and learners to assess progress, discuss key priorities within the Basic Education Sector, and encourage academic excellence and discipline. She also reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments that enable every learner to thrive, setting the tone for a day focused on quality teaching, and learner support.

Deputy Minister Mhaule addressed learners from various grades, delivering a powerful and heartfelt message about purpose, discipline, and seizing opportunities. In her address, she reminded learners that where they are right now is not their final destination, but a stepping stone to greater heights. She encouraged them to recognise the privilege of being in school and to use both hands to grab hold of every opportunity presented to them. Education, she emphasised, is a lifetime opportunity that must never be taken for granted.

Speaking to Grade 9 learners in particular, the Deputy Minister highlighted the critical importance of this phase in shaping their futures. She explained that subject choices made in Grade 9 determine the direction of their careers, and that learners must be intentional, focused, and informed when making these decisions. “Your future career begins in Grade 9,” she stressed, urging them to align their subject choices with their dreams and aspirations. She further challenged learners to take ownership of their academic journey, reminding them that once they receive their matric timetable, they are no longer just learners, they become candidates for the National Senior Certificate examinations. This transition symbolises growth, responsibility, and commitment to excellence.

Drawing from her own background of coming from a disadvantaged family, Deputy Minister Mhaule inspired learners to rise above circumstances and refuse to let their backgrounds define their futures. She encouraged them to ask questions when they do not understand, not to pretend comprehension, and to support one another in their learning journeys. The session was filled with motivation and a strong call to action: “Stay focused, work hard, ask for help when needed, and never underestimate the power of education to transform lives”.