The National Investigative Task Team (NITT) probing a major leak in the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations is set to submit its preliminary report to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube this week, with Monday (29 December) widely cited as the handover date. The report will remain confidential initially, while the full investigation concludes by 31 December.
The scandal involves 26 candidates from seven Pretoria schools who accessed seven leaked papers across three subjects: English Home Language (Papers 1, 2 and 3), Mathematics (Papers 1 and 2), and Physical Sciences (Papers 1 and 2). The materials, including marking guidelines, were shared via a USB device.
Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said markers first spotted anomalies in six English Home Language Paper 2 scripts during marking, where responses closely mirrored official guidelines. This prompted a joint probe with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), tracing the breach to national DBE offices.
Minister Gwarube confirmed the leak originated internally, implicating a DBE employee whose child was writing matric. Evidence suggests the employee received papers from a colleague in the examinations unit. Both officials have been suspended, and the matter referred to police for criminal prosecution.
The NITT – comprising Umalusi, Universities South Africa, teacher unions, DBE officials and a private forensic investigator – is assessing the breach’s full extent. Authorities stress the incident is localised, with no evidence of wider spread, and the overall integrity of the 2025 NSC exams remains intact.
Education activist Hendrick Makaneta condemned the leak as a “betrayal of learners” and called for criminal accountability to restore public trust.
Matric results are scheduled for release on 12 January 2026, with assurances that unaffected candidates will not face delays.