The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

AfriForum welcomes the Department of Basic Education’s swift and forceful action to determine who was responsible for the leak of seven matric examination papers in seven schools in Pretoria. At the same time, this organisation calls on the relevant authorities to impose the strongest possible punitive measures against those involved.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, the consequences of fraud of this nature can be devastating for many people’s futures. “Not only are those responsible affected by it, but it can raise question marks over the heads of an entire year group if the investigation is not sufficiently thorough. AfriForum is therefore pleased to see that the Department is handling this incident with great care and that the Minister is sharing the information openly with the public, although we remain concerned about the fact that fraud in matriculation examinations has now surfaced a few times in recent years.”

She refers, for example, to the incident in 2020 when the rewriting of a maths and a physical science paper was a big possibility because of fraud. “Any incidents like this create a lot of tension and uncertainty amongst matriculants who are trying to relax after the exams, because they realise that if the extent of the incident cannot be determined accurately, it could affect the entire year group and literally undo twelve years of hard work by them and their teachers.

“People who abuse their positions of trust to leak papers are responsible for the theft of children’s dreams and futures. They must face consequences of such a nature that it will deter others who consider similar offences,” Bailey concludes.

Issued by AfriForum