A security breach in the National Senior Certificate exams has been uncovered in Gauteng, where pupils at seven Pretoria schools accessed leaked papers and marking guidelines for three subjects. The Department of Basic Education detected the anomaly through its robust marking system, leading to the suspension of two staff members and a national investigation. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube emphasized the system's effectiveness in identifying the issue promptly.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced on December 11, 2025, that a breach involving leaked National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam papers and marking guidelines was detected in Gauteng. The irregularity was flagged during the marking process on December 2, when markers noticed unusual similarities in six English Home Language Paper 2 scripts to the official guidelines. This prompted the Gauteng Department of Education to alert the national DBE, triggering a joint investigation.
Interviews with 26 pupils from seven Pretoria schools revealed they had prior access to seven out of 162 papers: English Home Language Papers 1, 2, and 3; Mathematics Papers 1 and 2; and Physical Sciences Papers 1 and 2. The materials were shared via USB devices, originating from DBE offices where papers are set. A DBE employee, whose child is in Grade 12, allegedly received them from a colleague in the examinations unit; both have been suspended pending investigation.
Minister Siviwe Gwarube highlighted the multilayered safeguards of the NSC system, including expert markers trained in 'investigative marking.' 'Our well-trained markers were able to pick up an irregularity without delay,' she said during a media briefing in Cape Town. The National Investigative Task Team (NITT), involving Umalusi, Unisa, DBE officials, a forensic investigator, and teacher unions, was launched within 24 hours to trace the source, identify affected pupils, and prevent recurrences.
Priscilla Ogunbanjo, DBE director of national assessments, noted the breach's detection underscores the system's strength: 'It was detected because markers are equipped to know the difference between authentic learner responses and content that should only be accessible to markers.' Tools include script audits, interviews, and statistical analyses. A preliminary report is due on December 29, with the final on December 31.
The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation (NAPTOSA) expressed concerns over DBE security, with executive director Basil Manuel questioning easy USB access to secure facilities. The matter has been reported to the South African Police Service for criminal probe. Gwarube stressed zero tolerance: 'You cannot cheat the NSC and get away with it.' Only implicated pupils face charges and potential bans from three exam cycles, protecting the over 900,000 honest candidates.
This incident, affecting a tiny fraction of scripts, demonstrates the NSC's credibility amid rigorous protocols.
