First Thing is First | In February Stats SA will be conducting its first digital population census. This will mark the fourth population count since 1994 and Census 2022 will be the first digital population count. The census is held every 10 years, and the data of each individual in every household is collected. The project kicks off on the night of February 2, when the homeless will be counted.

• It is compulsory for every person to be counted and the Statistics Act imposes a R10 000 fine or a six-month prison sentence on anyone who refuses.
• Guest: Trevor Osterwyk, Communication Manager at Statistics South Africa 

FASHIONABLE FRIDAYS: Fashion lovers from across the world are
mourning the death of fashion icon André Leon Talley. The
American fashion legend passed away in New York on Tuesday
this week. He was 73. We’re now joined on the line by Fashion
Designer David Tlale.

Guest: Benson Mhlongo

ARTS: We now speak to Lesedi Matsunyane-Ferguson who is the
Director of Casting at Ferguson Films about upcoming online
digital auditions for various roles at Ferguson Films.

This week a lot of focus has been placed on learners
who excelled in matric but what about those whose results didn’t
go according to plan? We’re joined on the line by Clinical
Psychologist Benedict Mhlongo who will talk to us about picking up
the pieces after disappointing matric results.

On #TheHangout today we had a chat to Kwenzokuhle Ngcobo.
Born in Ezingloweni in Port Shepstone in Kwa-Zulu Natal, we chat all
things acting, his love for the arts, his upbringing and his character on
The Wife amongst many others.

First Thing is First | Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has announced that the 2021 matric pass rate is 76.4%.

This is an improvement from the 2020 pass rate of 76.2%.

The 2019 pass rate was 81.3%, and those candidates were the last to write exams before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

With 733 198 full-time candidates, this was the largest class in the history of matric exams

The pass rates at a provincial level were as follows:

• Free State: 85.7%
• Gauteng: 82.8%
• Western Cape: 81.2%
• North West: 78.2%
• KZN: 76.8%
• Mpumalanga: 73.6%
• Eastern Cape: 73%
• Northern Cape: 71.4%
• Limpopo: 66.7%

36.4% of matric students achieved a bachelor’s pass (2020: 36.4%), 25.2% achieved a diploma pass (2020: 26%), and 14.8% achieved a higher certificate pass (2020: 13.7%)

Guest: Professor Ruksana Osman (Former Head of the Wits School of Education), Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic

Conversation with Benedict Mhlongo, Clinical Psychologist

Twitter| @SABlended