With just weeks to go before the release of matric results for the Class of 2024, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has come under renewed pressure to lift the Information Regulator’s (IR) ban on the publication of results.

In the latest development, AfriForum has announced that it has mobilized its legal team to challenge the recent IR directive prohibiting the public dissemination of matric results.

Information regulator slows publication of matric results

This was after the Information Regulator announced last Wednesday that it had issued an enforcement notice to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for non-compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia) .

The DBE was ordered by the court to publish the results

The legal challenge over the public release of the results echoes a situation similar to that of the DBE in January 2022.

In his statementAfriForum recalled the case in which Maroela Media and an affected registrant won a court case to ensure that the 2021 baccalaureate results could be published in the media after the Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced a similar ban .

At the time, the North Gauteng High Court ordered the ministry to proceed with the publication of the work and was even ordered to pay costs.

Sharing matric results in the media “in the public interest” – AfriForum

On Monday, AfriForum said it was determined to do everything in its power to ensure that this year’s candidates could also get their results on media platforms, as was the custom in the past.

According to Alana Bailey, cultural affairs manager for the civil rights nonprofit, it is in the public interest for this information to be shared on public platforms.

“Calling this a violation of individuals’ right to privacy makes no sense, as only exam numbers appear in the media. The court has already ruled in favor of AfriForum and the other parties, saying this did not infringe on anyone’s right to privacy,” Bailey said.

DBE is “dealing with the matter internally”

Commenting on the matter, DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the department was “still dealing with the matter internally”.

“When the time comes, we will make our steps public,” he added.

According to Mhlanga, the department recently consulted with its legal unit and was having internal discussions regarding the publication of the results.

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