The Department of Basic Education has urged the public to avoid spreading false information about ongoing matric examinations. This follows misleading social media reports claiming a rewrite of the Mathematical Literacy paper. Officials emphasize the negative impact of such fake news on candidates.
The Gauteng Education Department, in coordination with the national Department of Basic Education (DBE), issued a caution on November 7, 2025, against the dissemination of false information regarding the current matric examinations. This alert comes amid circulating rumors on social media platforms that suggested the Mathematical Literacy question paper needed to be rewritten.
Steve Mabona, spokesperson for the Gauteng Education Department, highlighted the detrimental effects of such misinformation. "Any fake news that circulates leaves a negative impact on candidates therefore community members should be mindful of what they are saying," Mabona stated.
The DBE reinforced this message through an official Twitter post from its account @DBE_SA. The tweet, marked with #FakeNewsAlert, warned: "The schooling community is warned against believing a WhatsApp message currently making the rounds regarding examinations. If a message has not come through official channels please consider it false and misleading. #StayAlert #StopFakeNews."
This incident underscores ongoing efforts to combat misinformation during high-stakes national exams, which are crucial for South African students completing their secondary education. The DBE has previously prepared contingency plans for the 2025 matric process, as noted in related announcements, to ensure exam integrity amid various challenges.