Matric results safe despite DBE breach

THE breach of 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination papers originated from within the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) secure national examinations environment, but the integrity of the overall matric results remains intact, according to interim findings released on Friday.

- MURRAY SWART [e-mail]

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube released the findings of the independent National Investigation Task Team (NITT), which probed the leak of NSC question papers. The findings were accepted by Umalusi, which approved the release of the 2025 matric results and confirmed the credibility of the examinations.

The interim report found the breach was localised and involved 40 candidates in the Tshwane area - a small fraction of the more than 900000 learners who wrote the NSC exams in 2025.