Education quality assurance authority uMalusi has given a resounding endorsement of the 2023 grade 12 final year results set to be released this week by basic education minister Angie Motshekga.
uMalusi briefed the media in Pretoria and said the exams passed the credibility test overwhelmingly with little to no incidents.
The entity’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Mafu Rakometsi said a crackdown on criminal groups selling fake matric certificates was gaining momentum with a dozen or so people arrested at the end of 2023.
“Eleven suspects have been arrested by the South African Police Service on different dates. The first two suspects were arrested in Burgersfort in Limpopo on 27 October, one suspect was arrested in Pretoria in November, the next three were arrested on 20 November, and the last five (5) were nabbed on 13.
December 2023 again in Burgersfort, Limpopo. On the other hand, the Hawks arrested an employee of the Department of Higher Education on 11 December 2023 for fraudulently issuing a diploma certificate for cash. The suspect has been charged with corruption and his court case has been postponed to 19 January 2024. That is in five days from now,” said the Rakometsi.
Whilst expressing happiness with the credibility of the exams in both public and private schools, the authority raised concern about bogus schools including colleges which it said many South Africans continue to fall for.
“I am disappointed at parents and learners who still go to these institutions despite the many warnings we issue particularly at the beginning of the year,” he said.
Rakometsi urged parents to check with education for verification of whether a school or college is registered.
