Matric exams off to a good start: Education Department

2-minute read
31 October 2023 | 17:05 CAT

Image Credits : SABC_News_ matric exam

It has been a long road with many ups and downs, but now it is crunching time for the Class of 2023, who wrote their first exam, English paper one, yesterday, as the National Senior Certificate examinations began.

More than 700-thousand matriculants are expected to sit for their final examinations across six-thousand-898 centres from today. Addressing the media on the state of readiness for the exams on Sunday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshega said that these figures are not merely statistics but embody the aspirations, dreams and relentless efforts of all Grade 12 learners.

Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga says they’re still waiting for the final report on how the exam went in all the provinces. Still, so far, there have not been any incidents reported.

The Department is confident that there will be no repeat of the leaking of exams seen in previous years.

Mahlanga says, “After the 2020 incident of a leaked question paper in 2021, we secured all the papers; in 2022, we did the same. But we are not complacent; we have gone on to put more measures to make sure that this time around, it also doesn’t happen. We believe what we have done will help us, and we pray that things go according to plan.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Annisa Essack.

March and March says Radio Islam’s interviews on Islamophobia spark reflection

Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za 7 August 2026 | 08:26 CAT 1-minute read March and March national spokesperson Sandile Dube said that Radio Islam's questioning will prompt the organisation to reflect on criticism that it has become increasingly hostile towards the...

Ramaphosa backs Eskom grid split to drive energy reform

4 August 2026 | 15:45 CAT 2-minute read Eskom’s transmission business is being prepared to become a fully independent state-owned grid company. Generation and distribution remain burdened by debt, ageing infrastructure and unpaid municipal accounts. An independent...

Influencing Democracy

Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za 04 August 2026 2-minute read An article written by human rights lawyer and founder of the organization The Campaign for Free Expression Nicole Fritz claims that paid social media influencers and coordinated fake news campaigns...

A Swim To Ceuta

Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za 03 August 2026 2-minute read Pressures driving irregular migration and the challenges facing both Morrocco and Spain have come to the fore once again, as scores of Moroccans returned to their homeland after entering the...

Palestine Report

3 August 2026 | 11:00 CAT 3-minute read Gaza disarmament, settler violence and pressure on aid workers The reported Hamas disarmament framework, escalating settler violence in the occupied West Bank and a growing international crackdown on Gaza advocates were among...

Final Registrations!

Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za 30 July 2026 1-minute read The President has announced the date of local elections for this year to be held on 4 November 2026. According to the IEC’s General Manager for Communications Fikile Moya, the final official voter...