The compounding returns of investing in South Africa's brightest

As we observe South Africa’s National Children’s Day, the question that should occupy every boardroom, policy discussion, and family conversation is this: what are we truly investing in when it comes to our children’s potential? Not in rhetoric, but in measurable, transformative action.

At the Ruta Sechaba Foundation, the past 10 years have provided a clear answer. Our recent impact study, which examines the work done between 2020 and 2024, shows that supporting the brightest learners from disadvantaged backgrounds does more than change individual lives – it creates a ripple effect that strengthens families, communities, and the nation’s economic future.

The numbers tell a compelling story

In 2025 alone, we reached 851 learners across South Africa – the highest number in our history. But numbers don't change lives. Transformation does.

When young people gain access to quality education, everything shifts. The trajectory is undeniable. Our comprehensive impact study spanning 2020 to 2024 – tracking 2,752 learners over five years – reveals the depth of academic transformation our model delivers.

In English, 86% of our learners achieved above 65% in 2024, a striking rise from 77.8% in 2020. In Mathematics – the critical gateway to STEM careers and economic mobility – 66.5% exceeded the 65% threshold, compared to just 61.5% at the start of the study period.

The Grade 12 results are particularly compelling: 71.5% achieved an overall aggregate above 65%, positioning them not merely to pass, but to compete for coveted places at South Africa's top universities. To date, we have achieved a 100% Grade 12 completion rate, with 94% of graduates earning university exemption – opening doors to South Africa's leading institutions.

These aren't just statistics. Their futures unlocked.

The confidence dividend

But here's what the numbers alone cannot capture: 1,877 of our learners explicitly credit the scholarship with helping them achieve their academic and extracurricular successes. This isn't about hubris – it's about understanding the holistic nature of educational intervention.

When we surveyed our learners, they told us something striking. The scholarship didn't just relieve financial pressure; it fundamentally changed how they saw themselves. Being selected affirmed their worth during times of personal hardship. It gave them permission to aim higher; to believe they belonged in spaces of excellence.

One learner captured it perfectly: the scholarship shifted their mindset, inspiring them to continually strive for excellence. That psychological transformation – that confidence dividend – is as valuable as any distinction on a report card. The behavioural data reinforces this. Despite the disruptions of the pandemic years, our learners maintained exceptional attendance, with average absent days remaining below 10 throughout the five-year period. This isn't compliance; it's commitment. These young people understand the value of the opportunity they've been given.

An investment that multiplies

Perhaps the most powerful finding in our impact study is what happens after learners leave our program. Sixty-seven percent of surveyed learners are currently pursuing tertiary education. Among these students, 37% are achieving distinctions and consistently high marks, while an additional 31% perform above average.

But the ripple extends far beyond individual achievement. Our scholarship recipients are becoming agents of change in their own communities. They tutor younger students. They volunteer at orphanages and rehabilitation centres. They lead food drives, coach sports teams for disadvantaged youth, and mentor the next generation of learners who see themselves in these success stories.

This is the multiplier effect that every investor – whether corporate donor or government policymaker should understand. When you invest in one exceptional learner from a disadvantaged background, you're not funding one person's education. You're creating a catalyst for community transformation. You're training tomorrow's leaders who won't forget where they came from and who remain committed to lifting others as they rise.

The efficiency equation

For the corporate donors and education sector leaders reading this, here's the business case: our cost per learner has decreased significantly while our impact has intensified and our reach has expanded. This isn't about doing education on the cheap it's about building a sustainable, scalable model that proves quality education for disadvantaged learners isn't a charity case. It's a high-return investment in human capital.

We've more than doubled our donor base and substantially increased our funding capacity since 2018, while growing our team to meet the expanding demand. These milestones reflect something critical: the model works, it scales, and it attracts sustained support because the outcomes are undeniable.

The investment we owe our children

As we observe National Children’s Day, the challenge before us isn’t simply to acknowledge children in the abstract. It is to make tangible investments in their potential – particularly for those whose brilliance is matched only by the barriers they face. This Children’s Day, the reality is clear: only a small fraction of South African children from disadvantaged communities have access to the quality education that equips them for success.

The Ruta Sechaba Foundation identifies South Africa's brightest learners who might not have the financial means to reach their full potential. We create opportunities for them to access quality education, to maximize their potential in academics, sport, leadership, and life. We invest in the future today – not tomorrow, not someday, but right now.

The return on that investment? Communities transformed by empowered individuals who give back, and a generation of leaders who embody both excellence and empathy.

Every child in South Africa deserves this opportunity. Every boardroom should be asking: what's our investment strategy for developing the human capital that will drive our economy, lead our institutions, and solve our most pressing challenges?

The data is clear. The model is proven. The question is no longer whether investing in disadvantaged learners with potential yields returns. The question is: how quickly can we scale what works?

Because the future we're building isn't twenty years away. It's taking shape right now, in classrooms across the country, in the minds of over 3,500 young people who know they're not just being educated. They're being invested in.

Natasha Mkhize, Executive: Strategic Relations, Ruta Sechaba Foundation. 

BUSINESS REPORT