Education Department Secures Legal Victory to Publish 2024 Matric Results

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) will proceed with publishing the 2024 matric results in South Africa’s newspapers after a legal victory in the Gauteng High Court.

This follows the Information Regulator’s (IR) urgent bid to block the publication of the results on the grounds of non-compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Court Ruling on the Publication of Matric Results

On Wednesday, 8 January 2025, Judge Ronal Tolmay dismissed the Information Regulator’s urgent interdict, stating that the matter was not urgent and striking it from the roll with costs.

Judge Tolmay highlighted that the disagreement between the DBE and the IR lacked evidence of student complaints or harm under POPIA.

She emphasized that both parties must work together to prioritize the best interests of learners while continuing discussions to resolve the broader dispute.

Background of the Dispute

The Information Regulator had issued an Enforcement Notice to the DBE on 18 November 2024, ordering it not to publish matric results in newspapers and instead use methods compliant with POPIA.

The department argued that its current practice, which publishes marks linked to student numbers without revealing personal identities, is adequate and has not drawn any formal complaints from students or parents.

When the DBE’s appeal was submitted late, the IR imposed a R5 million administrative fine and sought an urgent court interdict to prevent publication.What Happens Next?

Despite the dismissal of the urgent application, the dispute over how matric results should be published remains unresolved.

For now, the DBE is set to publish the results in newspapers on 13 January 2025, maintaining its commitment to transparency and accessibility for matriculants and their families.

What This Means for Matriculants

The High Court’s ruling ensures that matriculants can access their results in newspapers as planned. The DBE maintains that publishing results tied to student numbers ensures confidentiality while making the information widely available.

Learners can also access their results via other official platforms, including schools and online portals.

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