Umalusi assures public of NSC credibility after December exam breach

UMALUSI, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training in South Africa, has today assured the public that the breach in a few of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) papers detected last December was localised and could not dent the overall credibility of the 2025 NSC results.

During an overview of the 2025 End-of-Year National Assessments and Examinations earlier today in Pretoria, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, the Chief Executive Officer of Umalusi, said Siviwe Gwarube, the Minister of Basic Education, and the National Investigation Task Team (NITT) would disclose comprehensive findings from their investigation into the breach.

The overall conclusion of the investigation is that:

- The leak was limited to the 3 subjects or 7 papers (NSC Mathematics Papers 1 and 2, Physical Sciences Papers 1 and 2. and English Home Language Papers 1 to 3), and 

- The leak was contained to around 40 candidates in 7examination centres in the Pretoria area.

He said following the leak, the NITT was established to independently investigate the source and spread of the breach and report the findings to Umalusi.

The NITT is made up of nine members, with Umalusi assuming an observer status.

"Professor Chika Sehoole chairs the NITT and his deputy is Mr Brian Schreuder. The other members of the NITT are equally respected leaders and scholars in the field of education. They have also played various leadership roles nationally and internationally," said Rakometsi. 

He said the report was presented to the executive committee of Umalusi on January 6. 

"Considering that the report singles out about 40 candidates out of a total population of approximately 600 000 who wrote the examination in the three subjects (Physical Sciences: 204 957, Mathematics: 254 413 and English HL: 135 090) across the country, Umalusi wants to assure the public that the breach was localised and therefore cannot dent the overall credibility of the 2025 NSC results. The approval statement will explain how the results of the implicated candidates will be dealt with.

"While the number of implicated learners currently stands at around 40 now, there will be consequences for anyone who is not included in the number now should they be discovered later on. This is because the work of the NITT is ongoing. Umalusi is empowered by section 21 sub-sections 2, 3 and 4 of the amended GENFETQA Act to cancel a certificate after it has been issued upon discovery of irregularities." 

He said Umalusi applauded the DBE for the swiftness with which they dealt with the breach.

"They urgently put together a reputable team of investigators to ensure that work get done throughout the December holidays and that the report is submitted for the consideration of Umalusi Council on 6 January 2026. Clearly, this is a true form of accounting to the public." 

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