Education Department Warns of Matric Exam Cheating

Officials say high levels of cheating by matric candidates are a concern as the final examinations near their end.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an hourglass with falling sand beside sharpened pencils on a plain wooden desk, evoking exam-time pressure. — South African education officials warned on Tuesday that cheating by matric final-exam candidates is rising, with offenders disqualified and complicit teachers reported to SACE. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Department of Basic Education is concerned about the high level of cheating by matric candidates in the final examinations, according to department spokesperson Terence Khala. Candidates found cheating are disqualified from writing the exams.

Why it matters

Cheating undermines the credibility of the matric examination, which is a key qualification for South African learners. Teachers found helping candidates are reported to the South African Council for Educators (SACE), and in KwaZulu-Natal teachers found assisting candidates during writing will be fired.

Candidates must sign a pledge not to engage in copying, and marking runs from 26 November to 1 December 2026. The department has not released figures on how many candidates or teachers have been implicated in cheating.

The players

Terence Khala

Terence Khala is a spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education who has publicly addressed concerns about matric exam cheating.

South African Council for Educators (SACE)

SACE is the statutory professional body that regulates teachers in South Africa and receives reports of teacher misconduct.

The details

Candidates caught cheating are disqualified, and teachers who helped them are reported to SACE. The department has also allowed extra time for some candidates who are preoccupied with family matters.

Marking-related activity at centres begins on 26 November 2026.
Official marking runs from 1 December 2026.

Season Trajectory

The matric examination is the final assessment of South Africa's secondary schooling and determines university admission eligibility for many learners. Heightened scrutiny of cheating signals the department's ongoing effort to protect the credibility of that national certificate.

Matric candidates should be aware that signing the no-copying pledge binds them to the rules, and that disqualification follows any cheating. Families of candidates facing family matters can seek the extra writing time the department has allowed.

The takeaway

Strict enforcement of exam rules protects the value of the matric certificate for every learner who sits the exams honestly. Candidates and teachers alike should understand the consequences before the examinations conclude.