South Africa's education regulator Umalusi has announced that the 2025 matriculation results will be released on January 12, 2026. The confirmation came during a media briefing in Pretoria involving key quality councils. Officials also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat unaccredited institutions.
South Africa’s quality assurance body in education, Umalusi, has set January 12, 2026, as the official release date for the 2025 National Senior Certificate results. This announcement was made during a joint media briefing in Pretoria on December 5, 2025, attended by representatives from Umalusi, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), and the Council on Higher Education (CHE).
The briefing emphasized that marking of the examination papers is progressing, with the process scheduled to conclude by December 18, 2025. Following this, Umalusi will conduct its quality assurance verification to uphold the integrity and uniformity of national standards. As part of its mandate, Umalusi oversees the marking for examinations administered by the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Independent Examinations Board (IEB), and the Southern African Christian Schools Association Independent Examinations Board (SACAI).
In addition to the results timeline, the councils expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of unaccredited institutions and fraudulent qualifications. Dr. Makhapa Makhafola, from Umalusi, urged learners, parents, and employers to verify credentials through official National Qualifications Framework (NQF) platforms before enrolling or hiring. He noted ongoing awareness campaigns targeting major cities such as Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town.
“We make sure that we really inform the public about bogus institutions because they are upon us. We need to be able to manage, especially in big cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Most find themselves exposed to such mishaps.”
The partners reiterated their united stance against illegal operators, warning of severe penalties for violations. This initiative aims to protect students and ensure quality education across the country.