Information Regulator's enforcement notice preventing publication of matric results unlawful - DBE

CAPE TOWN - The basic education ministry said that the Information Regulator's enforcement notice to prevent the publication of matric results in the media is not in accordance with the law.  

The department has launched a lawsuit at the North Gauteng High Court to appeal November’s notice.  

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The Department of Basic Education said the enforcement notice issued by the Information Regulator was null and void, following the filing of court papers to appeal.  

According to the department, the publication of matric results in news outlets would continue as planned.  

The Department of Basic Education added that the enforcement notice could only apply if there had been a past or present violation of the Information Act, which does not exist at this stage.

Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, clarified that only individual examination numbers would be published, which were not identifiable.

"The department feels that it has a case to make in the court for several reasons. One of them is that there was already a court order which permitted the department to proceed and release results in the newspapers, but we also feel that the use of exam numbers does not infringe on the identification of persons."  

The department is expected to release the matric results on 14 January 2025.