Angie Motshekga matric results

Image via: Twitter

Watch: Angie Motshekga invents new number in matric results gaffe

Shame, she actually rode this one out like a champ, even if it was a little cringe to begin with. Angie Motshekga’s matric results mistake left SA giggling.

Angie Motshekga matric results

Image via: Twitter

There was a jovial atmosphere during the reveal of 2019’s matric results on Tuesday evening, as this year’s school leavers managed to hit new heights. The pass rate for NSC exams reached a record-high of 81.3%, but Education Minister Angie Motshekga would end up stealing the show.

Motshekga wasn’t afraid to lighten the tone, and her address was filled with pithy one-liners and cutaway jokes. When your department has good news to report, it makes a world of difference. We just aren’t used to seeing it in South Africa. However, the veteran politician may have been a little too casual in her approach.

Watch: Angie Motshekga trips over her numbers in matric results speech

During a vital part of the speech, she attempted to explain how many pupils achieved passes that had allowed them access to higher education in the decade since 2009. The correct number was 1.763 million. Instead, Angie Motshekga provided this comedy gem:

Angie Motshekga went on to correct the matric results mistake and have a laugh at her own expense. Her invented figure of “1.1 million, 763 million” was certainly difficult to interpret. Could it be the sum parts of 764.1 million, or represent a multiplied figure of 8.2 trillion? Considering there are only seven billion people on Earth – and 57 million citizens in South Africa – this would have been quite the achievement, hey?

Jacob Zuma moment

Since her faux-pas with the figures, plenty of South Africans have been quick to link her gaffe to the ones made famous by Jacob Zuma. Msholozi often got his numbers in a jam, and people were prepared to judge: