Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has confirmed a significant breach in the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. At least seven exam papers were accessed before they were written, leading to an urgent national investigation.
The breach was first detected during the marking process when trained markers identified irregular similarities between a learner’s responses and the official marking guidelines. This prompted an immediate internal investigation by the Department of Basic Education’s quality assurance systems.
Details of the Breach
The National Senior Certificate examination consists of 162 quality-assured papers. Seven of these were accessed ahead of schedule.
The subjects affected include:
- English Home Language Papers 1, 2 and 3
- Mathematics Papers 1 and 2
- Physical Science Papers 1 and 2
Learners at seven schools in the Pretoria area accessed these papers before the official examination dates.
Suspected Source and Action Taken
Preliminary findings indicate that the leak originated from an employee within the Department of Basic Education. The individual allegedly downloaded the exam material and shared it with another official who has a child among the affected matric candidates. Both employees have been suspended while investigations continue.
The papers were reportedly transferred using a USB storage device before being distributed to learners. Minister Gwarube emphasised that the breach appears to be confined to the identified schools and that there is no indication it spread further.
Ongoing Investigations and Legal Action
The Department of Basic Education has formed a National Investigative Task Team with representatives from Umalusi, the South African Council for Educators and independent forensic specialists. The team’s mandate is to:
- Identify all learners and individuals involved
- Determine the full extent of the breach
- Recommend stronger security measures for future examinations
A criminal case has been opened with the South African Police Service for theft of state material. The department has reminded the public that possessing unauthorised examination content is a criminal offence.
Minister Gwarube noted that due process will be followed for all learners interviewed. If any are found guilty of malpractice, their results may be invalidated and they may face delays in re-entering the NSC examinations under the department’s disciplinary rules.
Assurance to the Public
The Minister confirmed that:
- Marking is continuing as planned across the country
- Final results have not yet been issued or certified
- The breach is a contained and isolated incident within the broader examination system
The department stated that strong security systems enabled early detection and containment of the breach. Minister Gwarube added that while improvements are still needed, the incident demonstrates that existing oversight and quality assurance measures are functioning effectively.
