Matric cheating scandal: Court halts release of results

THE Mpumalanga High Court has set aside an order compelling the Department of Basic Education to release withheld matric results to learners who were accused of being part of a massive cheating scandal during the 2022 exams.

- ZELDA VENTER

Their exam results were withheld and declared null and void by the Mpumalanga Department of Education. This was after the department determined at the marking phase of the learners' scripts and pursuant to an investigation that the learners had cheated.

The learners turned to court last year, where they scored a victory when the department was ordered to release their results. But the department now successfully appealed that ruling before three judges.

Judge Takalani Ratshibvumo found that the vast majority of the learners implicated did not exhaust the internal appeal processes, as required by law. In the opening to his judgment, he commented that it is often said that education is what remains after one has forgotten what they learned at school.

"In South Africa, the bridge from those learning years is marked by the National Senior Certificate examinations. This is the ultimate test that assesses learners' level of education after 12 years of learning."