Bolt Launches Initiative to Help Learners with Free Rides for Matric Rewrites

Bolt South Africa has launched “Bolt Your Matric Comeback,” an initiative sponsoring 1,000 learner rides to help young people access matric rewrites, supplementary exams and academic support programs.

With more than 900,000 learners having written matric and an official 88 percent pass rate, thousands of young people will now need to rewrite exams or attend academic support programs. For many of these learners, particularly those living far from schools or rewrite centers, transport remains a major and often overlooked barrier to a second chance.

Bolt Your Matric Comeback is aimed at ensuring that learners do not miss critical rewrite or support opportunities simply because they cannot get there. Through this initiative, Bolt will sponsor 1,000 essential rides for learners who need to travel to rewrite exam centers, support programs, or approved venues. The total investment of R120,000 will provide one vital ride per learner, offering practical support at a moment when it matters most.

Simo Kalajdzic, Senior Operations Manager at Bolt South Africa, said:  “Matric results can feel final, but they are not the full story of a young person’s potential. At Bolt, we believe in forward momentum. We believe that second chances matter and that access should never be the reason a learner gives up. Bolt Your Matric Comeback is about showing up for young people when the pressure is highest and reminding them that their journey is still moving.”

When the time comes for matric rewrites and supplementary exams, Bolt will release a dedicated voucher code via Bolt South Africa’s official social media platforms. These vouchers will be geo-locked and destination-locked, ensuring they are used exclusively for transport to registered schools, rewrite centres and approved exam or support venues within the selected provinces. This approach ensures the initiative reaches the learners who need it most while maintaining accountability and ease of use.

To ensure maximum impact, Bolt will focus the initiative on Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Cape Town, areas with high learner volumes, significant transport challenges and strong Bolt usage. This targeted approach allows the company to deliver meaningful support at scale while remaining closely connected to the communities it serves.

As the country reflects on this year’s matric outcomes, Bolt hopes to help shift the national narrative from disappointment to possibility. By supporting matric rewrites, Bolt is reinforcing its belief in resilience, growth and the idea that one result should never define a lifetime.