Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has announced that the results of 40 matric candidates implicated in the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam leak will be temporarily withheld while formal irregularity processes are concluded.

Gwarube was briefing the media on Friday afternoon on the release of the interim report of the National Investigative Task Team (NITT), which probed the leak of NSC examination papers. 

The breach has been confined to about 40 learners from seven schools in the Tshwane area.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) previously interviewed 26 learners whose scripts were flagged during analysis. 

The investigation confirmed that they had prior access to question papers and marking guidelines.

According to Gwarube, the NITT found that, based on evidence available to date, the breach originated within the DBE’s secure national examinations environment, where NSC question papers are set, processed and managed.

“The NITT further indicated that a DBE official, whose child was an NSC 2025 candidate, is alleged to have been involved in the breach, with the learner subsequently forming part of the distribution chain,” Gwarube said.

She added that a possible second suspected official remains under investigation and is subject to corroboration through ongoing forensic work.

“At the time of reporting, the forensic investigation had not yet yielded definitive evidence pinpointing the specific machine or time of extraction from the secure DBE server. The forensic scope has therefore been expanded, with investigations continuing alongside law enforcement,” she said.

The NITT reported that the breach was localised to 40 candidates in the Tshwane area, representing a very small fraction of the more than 900,000 candidates who wrote the NSC examinations in 2025.

Gwarube said the department would not publicly name the schools involved.

“School-level analysis was used purely as an investigative tool. Culpability attaches to individuals, not institutions, unless evidence establishes otherwise. Schools in the Tshwane area should not be presumed implicated by association,” she said.

The NITT’s overarching interim finding is that, given the limited number of implicated candidates, the integrity of the NSC examinations as a whole remains intact. This allows for the release of results for the broader cohort while due process is followed for those implicated.

She said standardisation indicators showed no abnormal patterns consistent with a systemic compromise of the examinations, supporting the conclusion that the matter was contained.

According to the report, seven question papers were leaked across three subjects: English Home Language (Papers 1, 2 and 3), Mathematics (Papers 1 and 2) and Physical Sciences (Papers 1 and 2).

The leaked materials were distributed through both digital and physical means, including removable storage devices, electronic messaging, screenshots and printed copies.

“The NITT cautioned that evolving technologies, including AI-enabled tools, can be used to disguise misconduct, underscoring the need to modernise prevention, detection and invigilation systems,” Gwarube said.

She announced that based on the NITT’s recommendation, the results of the 40 implicated candidates will be withheld temporarily. 

Each learner will face an independent hearing.

She said where a candidate is found guilty, the outcome and recommendations will be referred to the Provincial Examination Irregularity Committee and thereafter to the National Examination Irregularity Committee. 

“Umalusi will be the final arbiter.”

“Candidates found guilty may have their results in the affected subjects nullified and could face further sanctions, including being barred from writing the NSC examinations for up to three examination sessions,” Gwarube said.

She confirmed that the DBE has already taken action against alleged internal involvement, including the precautionary suspension of suspected officials. 

The department is also implementing the NITT’s recommendations to institute disciplinary proceedings, continue forensic investigations and support criminal prosecutions where evidence warrants.

Gwarube also confirmed that the matter has been reported to the South African Police Service for investigation.

“A forensic service provider has been appointed to examine electronic devices and related evidence, with the scope expanded to establish the source and timeline of the breach and identify any additional suspects.”

Earlier on Friday, Umalusi chief executive Dr Mafu Rakometsi said the exam breach was localised and did not undermine the overall credibility of the 2025 NSC results.

“While the number of implicated learners currently stands at around 40, there will be consequences for anyone not included in this number should they be discovered later,” Rakometsi said.

The NITT presented its findings to Umalusi on January 6. 

Rakometsi said the leak was limited to three subjects across seven papers.

About 204,957 learners wrote Physical Sciences, 254,413 wrote Mathematics and 135,090 wrote English Home Language in 2025.

Rakometsi said Umalusi has the authority to cancel certificates even after they have been issued if irregularities are uncovered. 

Learners whose certificates are cancelled must return them within three weeks or face possible fines or imprisonment of up to six months, he added.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News

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