In 2015, 54 local disadvantaged learners gained entry to Rhodes. Ten years later, in 2025, it is 188. That is, 90 learners from Makhanda’s township schools and an additional 98 from the GADRA Matric School (GMS) have registered as full-time Rhodes students.

“The VC was very excited when I told him that the number is almost 200 now.

We’ve smashed [the previous record],” Dr Ashley Westaway said.
“It’s the scale of it that makes it overwhelming and moving because then you think about 200 students well, that’s 200 families. The university is more accessible to the community than ever, and I sense that community good will towards the university is also higher than ever.”