Hawks make major breakthrough in matric results ‘breach’ – One detained

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, has made a breakthrough in the case involving the alleged leaking of the class of 2024 matric results on the internet, which were allegedly being sold to learners for R100.

The complaint was lodged by the Department of Education on Sunday, 12 January 2025, at Pretoria Central police station.

Pay for matric results

Johannesburg company Edumarks last Saturday allegedly enticed matric learners to pay R100 to get their results early instead of waiting for the outcome on Tuesday.

Following the alleged breach, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, in a media briefing, said the Hawks and the State Security Agency (SSA) were roped in to probe the alleged breach.

ALSO READ: Basic education ropes in Hawks, State Security to probe matric results ‘breach’

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the case was expeditiously transferred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation for further investigation. 

“This morning, 16 January 2025, the Hawks’ Serious Economic Offences Unit of the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, Cybercrime Investigation Head Office, descended upon a house in Hillcrest, north of Johannesburg, after their search and seizure warrant was approved.

Detention

“The Hawks proceeded to the identified premises where a 21-year-old young man and his parents are residing. During the search, various electronic gadgets and an unlicensed shotgun with live ammunition were found,” Mogale said.

Mogale said the 21-year-old suspect will be detained for the unlawful possession of a firearm, and further investigation into the matric result leakage will continue.

‘Breach’

During the briefing, Gwarube said the possible breach of the matric results was “extremely serious.”

“If there has been a breach in our system, there are two processes we need to follow. We need to determine, as the DBE, are our systems secure and airtight enough? As you recall, once we compile the results, we have to share our results with certain stakeholders so that they can start getting ready with their processes. So there is a real possibility there may have been a breach in that process.

“We are under the leadership of the DG [Director-General] going to launch an investigation because it’s absolutely critical that this process be as airtight as possible. So, if the breach has come from the DBE side, we will be investigating, and consequence management will follow,” Gwarube said.

Gwarube said the matric results were “absolutely insulated” from any manipulation.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Matric results for just R100? Outcry over ‘leak’ of marks