By: Bright Ntuli
Judgement has been reserved in the case regarding the publication of matric results in newspapers and on other public platforms.
This comes after the Information Regulator (IR) tried to prevent the Department of Basic Education (DBE) from publishing the 2024 matric results.
The IR’s application to obtain an interdict against it, failed on 8 January 2025 when Judge Ronèl Tolmay ruled in favour of its publication.
A court order was then issued that the results had to be published.
Over the past two days, the High Court in Pretoria has heard arguments from the Information Regulator, the Department of Basic Education and AfriForum.
The regulator maintains that the manner in which matric results are published contravenes the Protection of Personal Information Act.
AfriForum’s Alana Bailey says that the use of examination numbers instead of pupils’ names … provides sufficient protection for their privacy.
“Afriforum remain convinced that the release of the matriculation results is a matter that is in the public interest and that it should be possible for the news papers or other news channels to make the information available as long as the privacy of the learners is protected,” says Bailey.
