Cyril Ramaphosa saddened by William Smith’s passing
President Cyril Ramaphosa pays tribute to the legendary mathematics and science education innovator, William Smith.
Smith, who was born in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, died in Perth, Australia, from advanced cancer.
Many recalled their childhood memories, watching the mathematics and science lessons on television after school.
In a statement, President Ramaphosa offered his condolences to the family and friends of the popular educator who passed away at 85.
“The outpouring of affection the nation directed at him when he received his National Order demonstrated, years after his retirement, [demonstrated] the place he held in people’s hearts.
“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,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa stated that Smith made maths and science accessible to a broad audience, reaching not only learners but also their parents and anyone interested in revisiting or further exploring these subjects long after their school years.
“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.”