DBE Acts Swiftly Against NSC Exam Leaks

Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, addressed the media in regards to the NSC examination breach on Thursday. PHOTO: DBE

A breach in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations recently sent shockwaves through South Africa’s education department.

Basic Education (DBE) Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, confirmed this week that several leaks were swiftly detected in the English Home Languages papers 1, 2, and 3, the Mathematics papers 1 and 2, and the Physical Science papers 1 and 2, which were shared via a USB storage device.

Gwarube confirmed that their well-trained markers had detected an anomaly in Gauteng. The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) alerted the DBE about an abnormal similarity between the answers given by a learner and the answers provided in the marking guideline for English Home Language Paper 2. 

Gwarube insists that this detection does not deter but instead demonstrates the effectiveness of the marking system.

“The breach did not come to light through rumours. It was not discovered by chance. It was detected because markers, whose training includes investigative marking, are equipped to know the difference between authentic learner responses and content that should only be accessible to markers.

“This skill, plus our robust marking regime, which involves not less than 5 layers of quality assurance, was how we were able to pick up anomalies,” said Gwarube.

The Minister further confirmed that two suspects who are employed by the DBE have now been suspended, as one of the suspects' children, who is also involved in the scandal, is in grade 12.

The spread was confined to identifying learners in seven schools across Pretoria. Gwarube has launched a National Investigative Task Team (NITT) to confirm the exact source of the leak.

“A preliminary report will be provided to the National Examination Irregularities Committee on 29 December 2025, and the final report will be submitted to both the Minister and Umalusi on 31 December 2025,” affirmed Gwarube.

Meanwhile, Umalusi has shown vigorous support for the steps taken by the DBE, including the reporting of a case to the South African Police Services (SAPS).

“Umalusi would like to assure the Class of 2025, their families, institutions of higher learning and other stakeholders that the investigations will in no way delay the release of the results of the NSC learners who are not implicated in the reported irregularities,” said the spokesperson for Umalusi, Biki Lepota.

The NSC results will be announced on 12 January 2026.