President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the late William Smith.
Smith, known for his passion for teaching Mathematics and Science on SABC's 2, Learning Channel, died in Australia on Wednesday after a short battle with cancer at the age of 85.
In a touching tribute, Ramaphosa described Smith as an education and cultural icon in the nation.
"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.
“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 added that during Smith's 25 years of teaching, he touched close to one million learners.
"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," the president said.
IOL