Kagiso Trust has a deep and enduring history in the Free State. It has implemented its District Whole School Development (DWSD) model in the province since 2007.
It has reached more than 400 schools across the Motheo, Fezile Dabi and Thabo Mofutsanyana districts. As a result, it has impacted over one million beneficiaries.
By 2018, Kagiso Trust had successfully exited direct implementation in the province. This exit was intentional and signals the effectiveness and maturity of the model.
The continued performance of schools in the province reflects that the DWSD approach has been sufficiently embedded within the education system. The approach has also been taken up by the government and partners.
Importantly, the Free State remains a strong example of how sustained, system-led intervention can drive long-term educational outcomes.
The Free State has consecutively ranked first in the country. This trend demonstrates the durability of the model beyond Kagiso Trust’s direct involvement.
Projects implemented with others
Partnership is central to Kagiso Trust’s approach to education transformation. In the Free State, this has included close collaboration with the Free State Department of Education. There has also been collaboration alongside strategic public and private partners.
Through strategic partnerships, Kagiso Trust has supported skills development and learner exposure initiatives. These include advocacy and participation in the Maths Competition and National Skills competitions, which promote technical, vocational and future-focused competencies among learners.
Additionally, Kagiso Trust’s work through the Kagiso Shanduka Trust (KST) represents a mature public-private partnership approach. This approach was developed alongside the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation and later joined by the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation.
While the KST operates across provinces, its work in the Free State remains anchored in collaboration with the government. It is also aligned to national education priorities.
Learners reached
At its peak implementation in the Free State, Kagiso Trust-supported programmes reached over 600 schools across the Motheo, Fezile Dabi and Thabo Mofutsanyana districts. These programmes benefited more than one million learners, educators and community members.
Results improved through projects
The strength of Kagiso Trust’s approach lies in its holistic model.
Rather than focusing only on Gr. 12, the DWSD addressed the educators and school leadership so that learners could benefit and perform optimally.
This included educator development, learner leadership, curriculum support, psycho-social interventions, infrastructure improvement and enrichment initiatives.
By strengthening the full education ecosystem, matric learners were better supported academically and emotionally. This support led to sustained improvements in learner outcomes and school performance over time.
Vision shaped for learners
Kagiso Trust’s ethos is firmly anchored in igniting human capacity, not only for individual success, but for collective transformation.
The Trust envisions learners who are equipped to succeed academically and socially. It also sees learners who return to their communities as active citizens, leaders and mentors.
It envisions learners who understand that success can take many forms. These learners are empowered to pursue pathways aligned to their strengths – whether through higher education, technical and vocational training, or skills-based careers.
True transformation occurs when these learners return to their communities as active citizens, leaders and mentors. In turn, they help to “reignite” opportunity for others.
Projects continuing into 2026
While Kagiso Trust has exited direct programme implementation in the Free State, partnerships and sectoral support continue.
Initiatives linked to skills development through the provincial and national skills competitions are expected to continue into 2026.
More broadly, Kagiso Trust will continue to advocate nationally for education pathways that align learning with economic opportunity. This is particularly important as South Africa grapples with youth unemployment.
The continued success of Free State schools demonstrates that the DWSD model achieved its core objective: building a sustainable model that is scalable and replicable. This is shown through the results in the Free State, and now in Limpopo, the Sekhukhune East Education District. In the Sekhukhune East Education District, the model has been implemented since 2016.
The fruits of the model are slowly but surely beginning to show.
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