DBE defends private forensic probe into 2025 matric exam paper leaks

Minister of Basic Education of South Africa, Siviwe Gwarube.

The Basic Education Department has defended its use of independent forensic investigators in the leak of the 2025 National Senior Certificate Exam Question Papers.

This follows the National Investigative Task Team’s release of a report on Friday. Forty learners from seven Pretoria schools have been identified to have benefited from the leak.

Two departmental officials have since been placed on precautionary suspension. Investigations are continuing and the department has not ruled out the possibility of more learners being implicated.

VIDEO | Minister Gwarube releases Interim NITT report on recent matric examination breach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KuJtsIgm7A

The department’s spokesperson, Terrence Khala, says the aim of using independent forensic investigators is to protect the integrity of the examination results.

“What’s important is the integrity, as mentioned. And that is also one of the reasons why we’ve gone for an independent team. it’s important for us to also get independent views of the sector. we do obviously have our views, and we do have people that are part of that task team, but what’s important for us is to also get those independent views and really make sure that we can get independent observations. I think the task team itself is really composed of very high-level individuals. Prof. Sewela is a very, very well-versed individual in the education space, but also included in that is one of the former examination heads as well in the Western Cape,” says Khala.

#DBENews |The NITT’s investigation confirms that the leak involved seven question papers:
• English Home Language (Papers 1–3)
• Mathematics (Papers 1–2)
• Physical Sciences (Papers 1–2)

The results of the 40 learners linked to the breach will be temporarily withheld pending… pic.twitter.com/FF1BqlBwdh

— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) January 9, 2026