It will submit a report to minister of basic education Siviwe Gwarube, on Tuesday (24/2) after it concludes its investigations into the 2025 NSC examinations. The department is still awaiting the forensic audit report. 

The department confirmed the official implicated in the alleged leak of seven matric question papers before the year-end exams remains suspended, and disciplinary proceedings are pending. 

The official is among several people under investigation for the alleged leaks, which raised serious concerns about the integrity of the exams. The department said disciplinary processes are ongoing, but has not confirmed when these will be finalised.

The suspension remains in place while authorities continue probing the extent of the official’s alleged involvement.

“We are looking at the forensic investigation team to finalise so that we proceed with the necessary processes to deal with the official in question,” said the department’s director general, Mathanzima Mweli. “Should additional learners be identified through ongoing investigations, the law permits the cancellation of certificates even after they have been issued,” said Umalusi.

“The body also highlighted inconsistencies in the execution of roles and responsibilities by contracted security personnel at marking centres, as well as the persistent annual occurrence of examination irregularities, including group copying.”

The department confirmed in December seven Pretoria schools were implicated in the leak of mathematics, English home language, and physical science papers, and at least 26 candidates had access to the question papers. 

Gwarube confirmed DBE staff leaked the papers. One of the staff members is a parent to a student in matric, she said during a media briefing in December.

Admission to prior access

During the media briefing, it was revealed the papers were shared via a USB. Since initial investigations point to the intentional possession of stolen state property, the department reported the matter to the police so the criminal aspect could be looked into.

“During preliminary investigations, eight pupils were interviewed, and there was an admission that they had prior access to the question paper and the marking guideline for English home language paper 2,” said exam unit director Priscilla Ogunbanjo.

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