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Harry Gwala Secondary School

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Secondary · Public · NSC exams · EMIS 103323918

Umrhabulo Triangle, Metro East, Western Cape

1,375 learners 37:1 learners per educator Q2

At a glance

Fees
No-fee school
Exam body
NSC
Language
English

Matric: 89.2% of candidates passed in 2025 (190 of 213). Of the 32 comparable Quintile 2 schools in Western Cape with 2025 results, 24 scored lower.

Source: DBE EMIS Q3 2025 · NSC School Performance Report 2025 · Processed 8 Aug 2026

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Grade R, 1 and 8 admissions for 2027 closed on 14 April 2026. Late applications: Western Cape admissions portal · Provincial default, check the school · How admissions work

What kind of school is Harry Gwala Secondary School?

Harry Gwala Secondary School is a public secondary school in Umrhabulo Triangle, within the Metro East education district of the Western Cape. EMIS records it as a large school with 1,375 enrolled learners and 37 educators, giving a learner-to-educator ratio of 37:1.

It is classified as Quintile 2 — a government classification based on the surrounding community's socioeconomic profile, not a measure of school quality. It is designated as a no-fee school, so families do not pay tuition fees. Matric candidates write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) administered by the Department of Basic Education.

The school falls within the City of Cape Town local municipality. Among 32 Q2 Secondary schools in Western Cape, it has more learners per educator than 87% of similar schools. EMIS classifies the location as urban.

The school is at Hlehla Street Makhaza Khayelitsha 7784, and can be reached on 021 362 7500.

Language of instruction: English

As recorded by the Western Cape Education Department. See Methodology.

Note: The Urban/Rural classification is sourced directly from EMIS and may reflect historical registration data. See Data Limitations.

School fees at Harry Gwala Secondary School

Harry Gwala Secondary School is recorded as a no-fee school. Parents do not pay compulsory school fees. The school may ask for voluntary contributions. You do not have to pay them.

Fee status as recorded by the Department of Basic Education.

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NSC Matric Results

89.2% of candidates passed in 2025 (190 of 213). Of the 32 comparable Quintile 2 schools in Western Cape with 2025 results, 24 scored lower.

Show the peer dot plot & trend
2023
80.7%
142/176 passed
2024
81.1%
180/222 passed
2025
89.2%
190/213 passed

Each year reflects a different cohort. Year-on-year change does not necessarily indicate improvement or decline.

Pass rate by year (NSC)
YearPass rate
202380.7%
202481.1%
202589.2%
Pass rate distribution: Quintile 2 schools in Western Cape (2025)60% 65% 70% 75% 80% 85% 90% 95% 100% Typical similar school: 85% Masakheke Combined School: 67.3%Thembalethu Secondary School: 68.1%Worcester Sekondêr: 72.0%Ashton Public Combined School: 74.3%Sinako High School: 75.6%Oscar Mpetha High School: 76.2%Paulus Joubert Sekondêr: 76.5%Dr. Nelson R. Mandela High School: 77.2%Jakes Gerwel Technical School: 81.0%Vuyiseka Secondary School: 81.1%Phakama Secondary School: 81.1%Hexvallei Sekondêr: 82.0%Phillipi Secondary School: 82.6%Stellenzicht Sekondêr: 82.7%Sinethemba Secondary School: 83.7%L.K. Zeeman Primêre Skool: 83.8%Kwamfundo Secondary School: 84.7%Jonga Street Secondary School: 85.7%Matthew Goniwe Memorial High School: 86.3%Kylemore Sekondêr: 87.6%Hector Peterson Secondary School: 88.0%Charleston Hill Sekondêr: 88.3%Concordia High School: 88.5%Intlanganiso Secondary School: 89.1%Harry Gwala Secondary School: 89.2%Esangweni Secondary School: 89.5%Intsebenziswano Secondary School: 90.2%Murray High School: 92.0%Bardale Secondary School: 95.7%Joe Slovo Secondary School: 96.2%Chris Hani Secondary School: 96.8%Thembelihle High School: 97.2%Usasazo Secondary School: 97.9%This school: 89.2% This school

89.2% pass rate in 2025. 24 Quintile 2 schools in Western Cape scored lower, 8 scored higher.

Each dot is one school. The dashed amber line shows where the typical similar school sits: half score above, half below. Pass rates each year reflect a different group of students.

Pass rate distribution for Quintile 2 schools in Western Cape in 2025
SchoolPass rate
Masakheke Combined School67.3%
Thembalethu Secondary School68.1%
Worcester Sekondêr72.0%
Ashton Public Combined School74.3%
Sinako High School75.6%
Oscar Mpetha High School76.2%
Paulus Joubert Sekondêr76.5%
Dr. Nelson R. Mandela High School77.2%
Jakes Gerwel Technical School81.0%
Vuyiseka Secondary School81.1%
Phakama Secondary School81.1%
Hexvallei Sekondêr82.0%
Phillipi Secondary School82.6%
Stellenzicht Sekondêr82.7%
Sinethemba Secondary School83.7%
L.K. Zeeman Primêre Skool83.8%
Kwamfundo Secondary School84.7%
Jonga Street Secondary School85.7%
Matthew Goniwe Memorial High School86.3%
Kylemore Sekondêr87.6%
Hector Peterson Secondary School88.0%
Charleston Hill Sekondêr88.3%
Concordia High School88.5%
Intlanganiso Secondary School89.1%
Harry Gwala Secondary School (this school)89.2%
Esangweni Secondary School89.5%
Intsebenziswano Secondary School90.2%
Murray High School92.0%
Bardale Secondary School95.7%
Joe Slovo Secondary School96.2%
Chris Hani Secondary School96.8%
Thembelihle High School97.2%
Usasazo Secondary School97.9%
Pass rate by subject and year
SubjectYearWroteAchieved 30%+Pass rate
Accounting2023282071.4%
Accounting2024383284.2%
Accounting2025443886.4%
Business Studies2023665887.9%
Business Studies2024817086.4%
Business Studies2025827692.7%
Economics2023666598.5%
Economics2024817288.9%
Economics2025827287.8%
English First Additional Language2023177177100.0%
English First Additional Language2024223223100.0%
English First Additional Language2025217217100.0%
Geography20231118273.9%
Geography202414413291.7%
Geography202513411686.6%
History20231139886.7%
History202414213393.7%
History202512412197.6%
Life Sciences20231137969.9%
Life Sciences202414410572.9%
Life Sciences202513410477.6%
Mathematical Literacy202313611181.6%
Mathematical Literacy202416914384.6%
Mathematical Literacy202516414487.8%
Mathematics2023423173.8%
Mathematics2024553563.6%
Mathematics2025504488.0%
Physical Sciences2023383078.9%
Physical Sciences2024452044.4%
Physical Sciences2025463882.6%

Source: DBE NSC School Performance Report 2025; subject results: DBE NSC School Subject Reports 2024 & 2025. Methodology

After matric: applying and paying for study

Some universities charge nothing to apply, and some waive the fee. These are their own rules, checked on 7 November 2026. Most applications for 2027 closed in September and October 2026. Rules and dates change every year, so confirm on the university's website before you apply.

  • University of the Free State: No application fee (2027 applications).
  • University of Johannesburg: No application fee for online applications.
  • University of Mpumalanga: No application fee from the 2027 academic year.
  • University of Venda: No application fee.
  • Central University of Technology: No application fee.
  • Nelson Mandela University: No application fee for South African citizens.
  • University of the Western Cape: No application fee (2027 application guide).
  • University of Pretoria: R300 to apply for 2027, waived if your household income is R150 000 a year or less. You upload proof of income with the application.
  • Stellenbosch University: R100 for South African citizens and permanent residents to apply for 2027. The online system asks for R400: pay only R100 by EFT, or pay R400 online and get R300 back. Depending on the quintile of your school, undergraduate applicants may pay nothing: the application then shows the fee as R0.00. South Africans applying to the Stellenbosch or Tygerberg campus who cannot pay can send the university a motivation: the fee guide linked here gives the address. The EMIS record lists Harry Gwala Secondary School as Quintile 2; confirm with the university.
  • NSFAS: The government's student funding scheme for study at public universities and TVET colleges. Applications for 2027 funding closed on 31 October 2026; the website has the rules and lets you track an application.
  • Career advice (Khetha): The Department of Higher Education and Training's career advice service: call 086 999 0123 or SMS 072 204 5056.

This list may be incomplete: other universities may also be free to apply, and some charge a fee. It is not a recommendation of any university.

Learner numbers reported to the Department, by year

These counts are not a measure of quality. A number can change because a school adds or drops grades, because new schools open nearby or boundaries change, or because of an error in what was reported.

05001,0001,50020072010201520202025
Learners by year, with the number of learners down the left. A gap is a year we have no figure for.
See the number for each year
YearLearners
20071,211
20081,385
20091,233
20101,248
20111,242
20121,284
20131,232
20161,205
20181,144
20191,180
20201,245
20211,290
20221,249
20231,271
20251,375

These are counts of learners from the Department of Basic Education’s national school lists. A few figures that look like recording errors are left out. We found no list with figures for 2014, 2015, 2017, 2024. How we read these lists.

What is the learner-to-educator ratio at Harry Gwala Secondary School?

How many learners there are per educator, compared to schools in the same quintile and phase. The educator count includes teachers, heads of department, and principals, so real class sizes are usually larger than this number suggests.

Fewer learners per educator than 13% of similar schools

(Q2 Secondary schools in Western Cape)

Contact

Hlehla Street Makhaza Khayelitsha 7784EMIS
DBE EMIS Q3 2025 Report a correction
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Web address

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Location

Map

Distances & travel Distance to city centres, and travel time from your address

Distance to Major Centres

By road. Driving times are estimates in free-flowing traffic and exclude congestion.

Somerset West18.3 km · 13 min
Stellenbosch22.6 km · 21 min
Bellville27.8 km · 19 min

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What other schools are near Harry Gwala Secondary School?

Other schools within a few kilometres. Proximity does not imply similarity: these schools may serve different phases, quintiles, or communities.

Sizimisele Secondary School

Secondary · Public · Quintile 3

1,282 learners 38 educators 34:1

Fewer learners per educator than 54% of similar schools

Mandela Park · 0.3km away
Masiphumelele Primary School

Primary · Public · Quintile 2

1,385 learners 36 educators 39:1

Fewer learners per educator than 7% of similar schools

Umrhabulo Triangle · 0.3km away
Siphamandla Secondary School

Secondary · Public · Quintile 3

1,704 learners 40 educators 43:1

Fewer learners per educator than 4% of similar schools

Kuyasa · 1km away
Ludwe Ngamlana Primary School

Primary · Public · Quintile 2

1,504 learners 39 educators 39:1

Fewer learners per educator than 6% of similar schools

Kuyasa · 1.1km away
Chris Hani Secondary School

Secondary · Public · Quintile 2

1,308 learners 42 educators 31:1

Fewer learners per educator than 84% of similar schools

Umrhabulo Triangle · 1.1km away

Schools serving similar communities

Other public secondary schools in Western Cape with Quintile 2.

Grouped by quintile, phase and province. These schools face similar resource constraints to Harry Gwala Secondary School. This grouping is for browsing and is broader than the peer group used for the matric percentile above.

Sinako High School

Secondary · Public · Quintile 2

1,296 learners 39 educators 33:1

Fewer learners per educator than 68% of similar schools

Umrhabulo Triangle
Chris Hani Secondary School

Secondary · Public · Quintile 2

1,308 learners 42 educators 31:1

Fewer learners per educator than 84% of similar schools

Umrhabulo Triangle
Esangweni Secondary School

Secondary · Public · Quintile 2

1,251 learners 34 educators 37:1

Fewer learners per educator than 16% of similar schools

Kuyasa

Frequently Asked Questions

School data: DBE EMIS Q3 2025. Matric results: NSC School Performance Report 2025. Subject results: NSC School Subject Reports 2024 & 2025. Infrastructure: NEIMS/EFMS 2021 (historical). Learner-educator comparisons group schools by quintile, phase and province; matric comparisons group by sector and province, plus quintile for public schools. The learner-educator ratio includes all staff classified as educators, so actual class sizes may differ. Learn about our methodology

Some data fields may not be available for all schools. Missing data is shown as '—' or 'Not available'. Source: DBE EMIS Q3 2025.

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