By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Department of Basic Education (DBE) has revealed that an examination breach was detected during the marking process for the 2025 National Senior Certificate exams.
“The breach was detected through the department’s internal monitoring and oversight systems,” the department said.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe held an urgent media briefing early on Thursday, 11 December 2025, to provide more details about the breach.
The last time South African matric exam papers were confirmed to have been leaked widely was in 2020.
Gwarube began by outlining South Africa’s multilayered, quality-controlled marking system, which she described as one of the core safeguards of the National Senior Certificate (NSC). The system includes the appointment of expert markers using strict criteria, the development of detailed marking guidelines, standardisation meetings across subjects, intensive training of markers, moderation and tight compliance with defined tolerance ranges to ensure consistency and accuracy in marking.
Gwarube said, a preliminary investigation identified 26 pupils who had access to the leaked material — confirming that an exam breach had occurred.
She said, pupils admitted during interviews having prior access to both the English papers, mathematics papers 1 and 2 and physical sciences papers 1 and 2.
“Upon studying the question paper, our investigators concluded that it could only have originated from the national department of basic education’s offices.
“Further investigation revealed that the breach extended beyond a single paper,” Gwarube said.
She added that the spread appeared to be confined to identified pupils at seven schools in a specific area of Pretoria.
“English home language papers 1, 2 and 3, mathematics papers 1 and 2 and physical sciences papers 1 and 2, were shared via a USB storage device.
“At this stage, there is no evidence that the breach spread beyond a localised area. However, we are continuing our investigation,” she said.
Gwarube said two employees of the education department in Gauteng have been suspended amid accusations of leaking several matric papers, and a criminal case had been lodged with the South African Police Service for investigation of theft of state property.
She said one of the employees is a parent to one of the matric pupils, who is being investigated.
Gwarube further said a national investigative task team was also being convened to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the breach.
The investigation will commence on 12 December 2025 and is expected to be completed before the final approval and announcement of the results on 12 January 2025.