William Smith has died at the age of 85 years and left most of South Africans heartbroken after his remarkable education that he has given people.
South Africa is mourning the loss of a remarkable educator, William Smith, who passed away at the age of 85. Revered as the nation’s favorite mathematics and science teacher, Smith’s television lessons provided academic support to countless students, making him a household name. His passing, which occurred on Wednesday morning in Australia after a brief battle with cancer, has left a void in the hearts of many.
Smith’s daughter, Jessica Smith, shared the news, revealing that her father was surrounded by family during his final moments. His diagnosis of stage four cancer just a few weeks ago gave the family only a short time to prepare for his departure. “It’s always hard when someone you love passes on, but you know that is inevitable. We are very fortunate that we could be together as a family, be there in his final moments, and that he went fairly peacefully,” Jessica said, expressing the family’s mixed emotions of grief and gratitude.
The Smith family, while deeply mourning their loss, is also celebrating William Smith’s enduring legacy. South Africans from all walks of life have taken to social media to express their admiration and share how Smith’s teachings impacted their lives. Jessica noted that her father’s life had come full circle, with his vision of accessible education for all becoming a reality. “I think my dad had a very simple vision, which was bringing education to everyone and not letting race or language or socio-economics or any other reasons stand in the way of education. He was such a firm believer in the power of education,” she added.
Social media has played a significant role in highlighting the profound influence Smith had on many lives. While there are often criticisms of social media, Jessica pointed out its positive aspect in this context—allowing people to publicly acknowledge the role her father played in their personal and professional development. “There’s a lot of downsides to social media, but the good side is that people were able to talk about what he meant and how he influenced their lives, their careers, and their decision-making. Some people have just done the most amazing things with the skills and knowledge that my dad gave,” she said.
William Smith became a familiar face to millions of South Africans through his educational television program, the Learning Channel, which aired on SABC. Starting in the 1990s, Smith aimed to bridge the educational gap by offering free extra lessons to disadvantaged students. His program, which focused on simplifying complex mathematics problems step-by-step, also covered other subjects such as science, biology, and English. For years, he entered homes across the country, becoming an integral part of students’ academic journeys. Many have fondly reminisced about how they would skip school just to watch his lessons on TV.
Reflecting on the public’s outpouring of love and respect for her father, Jessica shared that it was heartening to see people celebrating his life. She recalled how a few years ago, she showed her father the feedback he was receiving on Twitter (now X), and how deeply moved he was. “When you’re behind the camera, you don’t always know exactly who that is on the other side and what they’re going to do with it. But a couple of years ago, I was on Twitter [now X], I got that feedback, and I showed him what people were saying. And he was very moved,” she said.
“He said to me, ‘this is why I did it.’ Not being behind the screen during retirement years to be able to hear people’s stories about how you helped them… it was just exactly what he wanted.”
William Smith’s contributions to education did not go unnoticed. In 2019, he was awarded the Order of the Baobab in Silver by President Cyril Ramaphosa for his outstanding contribution to teaching and demystifying mathematics and science. Additionally, in 2021, Rhodes University honored Smith with a Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) for his role in the Learning Channel program. Smith’s academic achievements were equally impressive, having completed both his BSc and BSc (Hons) with distinction at Rhodes University.
Smith’s legacy is also tied to his family’s rich academic background. His father, Professor JLB Smith, is renowned for identifying the coelacanth, while his mother, Margaret Smith, was an accomplished ichthyologist and fish illustrator. The impact of William Smith’s televised lessons was eloquently summarized by Rhodes University’s vice-chancellor, Sizwe Mabizela, who wrote in 2021,
“Over the years, Mr. Smith reached many young people in South Africa and beyond, for whom his televised lessons were the only quality instruction they received in Mathematics and Science. Thanks to his exceptional teaching skills and compassion, for almost two decades, the Learning Channel became an indispensable platform for young people of our country to receive interactive TV education in Mathematics and Science. In this way, he became the teacher for the entire South African nation.”
As South Africa bids farewell to this iconic educator, William Smith’s legacy of dedication to accessible education will continue to inspire future generations.
