News24 | Universities to receive matric results only 24 hours before official release

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube.

• For the first time, universities will receive the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results 24 hours before they are officially released, instead of three days earlier as in previous years.
• The move follows the leak of the 2024 NSC exam results on a private company’s website before their official release by the Department of Basic Education.
• Prospective students who applied to universities for admission in 2026 can expect to receive their application outcomes between 13 and 23 January.

In a bid to protect the integrity of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam processes, the Department of Basic Education will only release the results to Universities South Africa (USAf) and the media 24 hours before the official release.

The move follows the leak of the 2024 NSC exam results on a private company’s website before their official release by the department.

Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said on Friday that “all partners in the results supply chain will be subject to vulnerability audits to ensure that every link in the chain meets the required security standard”.

“In response to the EduMarks matter, where 2024 NSC candidate data was unlawfully traded by a third party ahead of the official results release, the DBE (Department of Basic Education) initiated a forensic cybersecurity investigation into the unauthorised disclosure of the 2024 NSC results and the systems, processes and stakeholders involved in handling, storing, transmitting and disseminating results.”

She stated that the probe identified key weaknesses and provided recommendations, and the department had subsequently developed a mitigation plan to improve them.

She said that in giving effect to the recommendations, the department was implementing several measures, including:

Responding to the department’s decision, USAf stated that for the first time in many years, public universities would release application outcomes to prospective first-time entering students only after the official release of the NSC results to candidates.

“This change arises from USAf being granted access to the 2025 NSC results at 06:00 on Monday, 12 January, 24 hours before their public release on 13 January.”

Universities previously received the NSC results three days before they were publicly released.

USAf CEO Phethiwe Matutu said the three-day timeframe “enabled institutions to finalise admission decisions and issue acceptance letters on the same day learners received their results”.

“This facilitated a smooth admissions process and reduced anxiety among prospective university students.

“This shortened time frame will place significant operational and administrative pressure on universities, particularly in relation to timely and efficient processing and issuance of offers to prospective students.”

READ | 2025 matric exam leak localised to 40 pupils, says Umalusi CEO

Matutu said prospective first-time entrants must, therefore, await their application outcomes directly from universities.

“This removes the need for students to inundate institutions with enquiries, or to arrive on campuses prematurely, exposing themselves to safety and vulnerability risks at a time during which they cannot be attended to.”

Matutu said students must only arrive on campus after receiving an application outcome and a confirmation of their accommodation status.

She urged students to accept their placement offers as soon as they made their choices.

USAf stated that, according to correspondence received from universities, prospective students can expect to receive their application outcomes between 13 and 23 January.