Overview
- Umalusi's state‑of‑readiness audit found the DBE, DHET, IEB and Sacai prepared to run the 2026 year‑end exams and confirmed 1.08 million candidates are registered.
- The DBE has reported shortages of markers in Afrikaans Home Language, English Home Language and History and will start marking early and phase the process to reduce pressure on marking capacity.
- Umalusi said it is satisfied overall that assessment bodies have sufficient capacity and expressed confidence that the DBE's mitigation plan will limit disruption to the results timetable.
- Umalusi has received the NITT final report into the 2025 breach, which found the incident involved only 40 Pretoria candidates, and the DBE has opened disciplinary processes.
- The DHET will complete its marker appointments later in October and Umalusi will review DHET's marking capacity before the end of the month; timely, credible marking matters for university access and could still be affected by any shortfalls.