Court clears way for publication of matric results using exam numbers

Court rules matric results can be published with exam numbers

Matriculants across South Africa may soon see their results in newspapers, but not by name. In a decisive ruling, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria confirmed that publishing matric results using only examination numbers protects the privacy of students, siding with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and leaving the Information Regulator to reconsider its next steps.

The decision came on Friday, 12 December 2025, dismissing the Regulator’s urgent application to block the publication. Acting Judge Mark Morgan described the Regulator’s arguments as “fanciful,” likening them to a poorly thought-out experiment rather than a solid legal challenge.

Why the Regulator opposed publication

The Information Regulator had argued that publishing results in newspapers, even using exam numbers, could violate the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

In late 2024, the Regulator had issued an Enforcement Notice and an Infringement Notice to the DBE, carrying a potential fine of R5 million, demanding that the department halt public publication of matric results. The concern was that students’ personal information could be exposed to the public.

However, the DBE, supported by AfriForum as an interested party, maintained that using unique exam numbers, rather than names, sufficiently protected privacy while allowing the public to access results efficiently.

Regulator takes stock

After the ruling, the Information Regulator expressed disappointment but said it would study the judgment carefully.

“Naturally, the Regulator is disappointed that the Court’s judgment was not in its favour. We will announce the next course of action following this decision,” the Regulator said in a statement.

The statement emphasised the importance of judicial clarity on POPIA obligations, particularly regarding how responsible parties should handle personal information of students and other data subjects.

What this means for matriculants

For the 2025 matric cohort, results are set to be released on 12 January 2026, confirmed by South Africa’s education quality assurance body, Umalusi.

Marking of examination papers will conclude on 18 December, followed by a rigorous quality assurance process to ensure the results are accurate before release. Newspapers are now expected to publish results using unique exam numbers, a method increasingly familiar to the public in recent years.

Public and social media reaction

Social media users have reacted with a mix of relief and curiosity. Some parents and students welcomed the compromise, saying exam numbers are a safe middle ground between transparency and privacy. Others criticised the continued bureaucracy, questioning why matric results are still delayed until mid-January.

Many have also called for digital publication methods, noting that online platforms could provide secure, password-protected access, balancing privacy with faster results dissemination.

A precedent for student privacy

This ruling sets an important precedent in South Africa’s POPIA landscape, confirming that anonymised identifiers like exam numbers can legally protect personal information while allowing public access. It also clarifies the limits of the Information Regulator’s authority in enforcing privacy protections, particularly when existing anonymisation methods are employed.

As the country prepares to celebrate the achievements of the 2025 matric class, students and parents can expect results in newspapers and online, all without exposing names, a compromise between accountability, transparency, and privacy.

{Source: IOL}

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