2025 matric results unaffected by DBE examination paper leak

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.

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 900 000 learners who wrote the NSC exams in 2025. Seven question papers were confirmed to have been compromised, covering English Home Language (Papers 1–3), Mathematics (Papers 1–2) and Physical Sciences (Papers 1–2). Results for the implicated candidates will be temporarily withheld while disciplinary processes are concluded.

The findings build on disclosures made late last year, when Gwarube confirmed that leaked 2025 examination papers had originated inside the DBE and reached learners at seven Pretoria schools. At the time, 26 matric pupils admitted to investigators that they had gained access to English Home Language Paper 2 and its marking guideline. Two DBE employees were suspended.

The irregularity was uncovered on December 2, when Gauteng markers detected an unusual similarity between a learner’s answers and the official marking guideline for English Home Language Paper 2, triggering standard escalation protocols. Gwarube said the discovery showed that safeguards in the system were functioning as intended.

“Our systems worked exactly as they were designed to do: to detect, isolate, investigate and address any manipulation of the NSC exams,” she said during a briefing at Parliament’s Good Hope Chambers.

According to the NITT, the breach allegedly involved a DBE official whose child was a 2025 NSC candidate, with the learner forming part of the distribution chain. A possible second official remains under investigation. While the exact extraction method has not yet been confirmed, the forensic scope has been expanded and the matter has been reported to the South African Police Service.

Umalusi said standardisation indicators showed no evidence of systemic compromise, supporting the release of results for unaffected candidates. With the 2025 matric results due this week, the DBE said additional security and information-protection measures had been implemented to prevent a recurrence.

Gwarube said South Africans could remain confident in the NSC system, stressing that irregularities were detected and addressed without undermining the achievements of the vast majority of learners.

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