Public secondary school · Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal · Uthukela district (Klipriver circuit)
On this page, you will find a full profile of Dr Joseph Shabalala Secondary School, covering its location, admissions steps, fees and matric performance.
Located in Ladysmith, Dr Joseph Shabalala Secondary School is a public secondary school. It is a fee-charging school, funded under quintile Q5.
Of the 145 learners from Dr Joseph Shabalala Secondary School who wrote matric in 2025, 90.3% passed. The pass rate has improved over the past three years.
| Year | Candidates wrote | Achieved NSC | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 181 | 132 | 72.9% |
| 2024 | 190 | 143 | 75.3% |
| 2025 | 145 | 131 | 90.3% |
Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports. Exam centre 5211408.
That year, Dr Joseph Shabalala Secondary School offered results across 11 of the gateway subjects tracked nationally. English First Additional Language had the strongest result, at 100%.
| Subject | Wrote | Achieved | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 83 | 33 | 39.8% |
| Mathematical Literacy | 107 | 89 | 83.2% |
| Physical Sciences | 61 | 21 | 34.4% |
| Life Sciences | 50 | 36 | 72.0% |
| Agricultural Sciences | 50 | 40 | 80.0% |
| Accounting | 48 | 34 | 70.8% |
| Business Studies | 48 | 36 | 75.0% |
| Economics | 48 | 35 | 72.9% |
| Geography | 92 | 86 | 93.5% |
| History | 81 | 79 | 97.5% |
| English First Additional Language | 190 | 190 | 100.0% |
Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.
Dr Joseph Shabalala Secondary School is a fee-charging school, classified quintile Q5. Fee-charging schools receive lower per-learner state funding and rely on school fees to cover the difference. Public schools in this quintile typically charge an estimated R1,500 to R8,000 a year. This is a national estimate, not a figure verified for Dr Joseph Shabalala Secondary School specifically, so contact the school directly to confirm its current fees.