Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the late William Smith, renowned for his passionate teaching of Mathematics and Science on SABC’s Learning Channel.
Smith passed away in Australia at age 85 after a brief battle with cancer.
Ramaphosa hailed him as an educational and cultural icon who demystified maths and science for millions of South Africans over 25 years, even before the country’s transition to democracy.
“The outpouring of affection the nation directed at him when he received his National Order demonstrated, years after his retirement, the place he held in people’s hearts.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of maths and science education innovator and Esteemed Member of the National Order of the Baobab, Mr William Smith.
The President offers his condolences to the family and friends of the popular educator who has… pic.twitter.com/qfuoqMKJ6H
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) August 22, 2024
“He was synonymous with The Heads of Knysna which was the backdrop to his television presentation decades before we could think of him as the first teacher to teach ‘remotely’.
“He demystified maths and science for his audience which extended beyond learners to their parents and anyone who wished to revisit these subjects or learn more, long after they had left school,” Ramaphosa said.
He said that Smith’s impact extended to nearly one million learners, and his legacy as a pioneer in remote teaching endures.
President @CyrilRamaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of maths and science education innovator, and Esteemed Member of the National Order of the Baobab, Mr William Smith, who has passed away at the age of 85. https://t.co/Cim6l0Zd4W#RIPWilliamSmith pic.twitter.com/vMrplWCDFc
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) August 22, 2024
“William Smith’s passion for his curriculum and for the success of those he taught in classrooms, at matric camps and on TV benefited millions of young South Africans even before our transition to democracy and the dawn of a new dispensation of equal education. May his soul rest in peace.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
