Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has confirmed serious exam irregularities involving six matric scripts in Gauteng.
Gwarube reveals that the department flagged unusual similarities in answers for English Home Language (HL) Paper 2 during marking.
This triggered an investigation involving 26 learners, many of whom later admitted to accessing the exam papers and marking guidelines before writing.
In a media briefing this morning, Gwarube explained: “The department of education officially alerted the National Department of Basic Education on the 1 December of unusual similarities between answers submitted by candidates and those in the marking guidelines for English Home Language Paper 2. This immediately sparked concern.”
She also stressed that the breach was detected through internal systems:
“Let it be clear, this detection demonstrates the effectiveness of our systems. The breach did not come via rumours; it was not discovered by chance. It was detected.”
The investigation found that the leak originated inside the DBE’s question-paper setting offices, where a USB containing several papers – English HL Papers 1, 2 and 3; Mathematics Papers 1 and 2; and Physical Sciences Papers 1 and 2 – was unlawfully shared with seven schools in Tshwane.
The prime suspect is a DBE employee whose child wrote the 2025 matric exams.
Gwarube confirmed that the DBE will now work directly with the affected schools and learners:
“We will be communicating with the seven schools and all learners involved to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to remedy the situation.”
The matter has been formally reported to the SAPS.
Quality assurance body Umalusi has acknowledged the breach and confirmed it received a preliminary report from the DBE on Wednesday, 10 December.
In a statement, the council said: “Umalusi wishes to inform the public that it received a preliminary report on Wednesday, December 10, from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on the issues reported by the Minister. Having studied the report, Umalusi is satisfied with the steps taken by the DBE thus far, including reporting the case to the SAPS.”
The council also welcomed the ongoing investigation: “Similarly, Umalusi is pleased by the ongoing investigative work aimed at determining the magnitude of the irregularities.”
Umalusi added that the DBE will present its full findings to the Executive Committee of Council during the approval of results meetings scheduled for January 6-8, 2026.