President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of maths and science education innovator, William Smith.
According to his family, Smith passed away following a short battle with cancer at the age of 85 in Perth, Australia.
President Ramaphosa conferred the Order of the Baobab on Smith in 2019.
The award-winning educator was best known for teaching maths and science through television in a groundbreaking 1990s TV programme called the ‘Learning Channel’ on SABC 2.
“William Smith was an education and cultural icon to our 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,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa added that Smith’s passion and commitment benefited millions of learners, “even before our transition to democracy and the dawn of a new dispensation of equal education.”
Meanwhile, messages of condolences continued to pour in for the tutor, especially from those who benefitted from his lessons.
“A peaceful journey to the asymptote of mathematical heaven, William Smith.
Your legacy endures, much like the infinite nature of mathematics itself.
Thank you for making its complexities understandable to so many of us,” commented @zilevandamme.
@ThabisoSithole wrote “The only Maths Teacher I understood while growing up.
Farewell Mr William Smith.”
“RIP William Smith, and thank you for all you’ve done for us,” commented @simplyMno.
“He guided countless of us through high school maths with his TV lessons, leaves behind a legacy cherished by many South Africans.
May his soul rest in peace,” said @zola_hashatsi
