Department of Basic Education

King Misuzulu under fire over remarks about foreign nationals

Cultural expert, Professor Musa Xulu, has described King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s use of a derogatory term to refer to foreign nationals as inappropriate and deeply unfortunate. The AmaZulu king has come under fire following remarks he made during the Isandlwana battle commemoration over the weekend. While addressing attendees, King Misuzulu called for dialogue to prevent a repeat of the xenophobic violence, which engulfed KwaZulu-Natal in 2008 and 2014. It is estimated […]

January 26, 2026 149

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Umalusi clears 2025 Matric Exams despite paper leak; 40 results withheld

Umalusi has certified the integrity and credibility of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, clearing the way for the official release of matric results next week — despite the confirmation of an examination paper leak affecting a small number of candidates. The quality assurance body briefed the media on Friday, outlining the outcomes of its moderation, monitoring and standardisation processes as South Africa counts down to the matric results […]

January 9, 2026 245 2

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Gauteng Education moves to allay fears after matric exam breach

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has reassured matric candidates that the integrity of the 2025 examinations remains solid, despite the recent leak scandal. Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, confirmed that several matric exam papers were leaked, affecting seven schools in Tshwane. The compromised papers included English, Maths and Physics, giving some learners early access not only to the questions but also to the memos. It is reported that the […]

December 12, 2025 80

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Activists urge caution as “Pens Down” season looms

As the Class of 2025 prepares to write its final matric papers, education activists are urging learners to celebrate responsibly, cautioning that "pens down" festivities often come with serious safety risks. More than 900,000 candidates have sat for the National Senior Certificate exams over the past six weeks, and excitement is mounting as this year’s matric class prepares to write its final paper on Thursday. But the festivities that follow […]

November 25, 2025 50

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Milnerton High incident reignites concerns over bullying at schools

The viral video of the violent bullying incident at Milnerton High School in Cape Town has sparked outrage on social media, over the apparent lack of accountability and school safety. In the disturbing footage, a group of boys, some reportedly from the school’s first rugby team—using belts and hockey sticks to assault a Grade 10 learner, while others cheer, record, and verbally abuse the victim. The incident, which allegedly occurred […]

October 22, 2025 164