Overview

• Nearly 900,000 candidates will write the National Senior Certificate from 21 October to 27 November, with 766,543 full-time and 137,018 part-time candidates registered under the DBE and over one million across all assessment bodies.
• Minister Siviwe Gwarube said secure question-paper setting, printing and distribution are in place, with accessibility provisions such as Braille, large print and South African Sign Language recordings.
• Umalusi flagged shortages of markers for specific papers, including history and language Paper 3, and noted DBE mitigations through extra recruitment, an earlier start and an extended marking period, with marking scheduled from 15 November to 18 December.
• Printing and distribution sites have been audited, storage points are monitored with SAPS, and examination centres have been risk-rated to guide invigilation and security, with high-risk locations kept confidential.
• SADTU urged communities to avoid disruptions and pressed authorities to prevent leaks, while also warning against steering learners away from gateway subjects; provincial and national leaders issued well-wishes and called on families to provide calm, supportive home environments, including Limpopo’s online prayer session.