The Department of Basic Education has confirmed that the 2025 matric results will be published in accredited newspapers next Tuesday, 13 January, following a format that excludes learners’ names and identity numbers.
Instead, the results will appear using examination numbers only, a move the department says is necessary to protect learners’ personal information and comply with an existing court ruling.
The announcement comes as thousands of matriculants prepare to receive their results, with public interest once again focused on how the information will be released.
The department has made it clear that the format is not a new decision, but one guided by a legal framework that remains in place.
As outlined in reporting carried by the SABC, the approach follows a 2022 court order that restricts the publication of personally identifiable learner information. The department confirmed that this ruling, granted on 18 January 2022, is still binding.
The department also disclosed that it intends to oppose the Information Regulator’s application for leave to appeal the judgment. However, officials stressed that this legal stance should not be read as disregard for the regulator’s role.
Department spokesperson Terence Khala said the decision is rooted in legal obligation rather than institutional resistance.
‘The department is of the view that it is legally obliged to publish the results in a format that does not compromise the identity of any candidate as the court order had granted on the 18th of January 2022,’ Khala said.
He added that learner protection remains central to the department’s position. ‘This is important to note that the department remains committed to the legal compliance, learner protection, transparency and accessibility while ensuring that the rights, dignity of every learner are respected.’
With the release date now confirmed, learners will be able to access their results through official channels from 10am, as per the Western Cape Government while avoiding the public exposure of sensitive personal details.
As next Tuesday approaches, the department has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the process remains lawful, transparent and respectful, keeping the focus on academic outcomes rather than personal data.
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