Matric exam leak: EFF and Afriforum in rare agreement over rewrite

In a rare moment of harmony, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have sided with AfriForum over the controversial decision to make matrics rewrite the Maths and physical Science papers that were leaked in November. 

Afriforum announced on Monday that they would be taking the matter to court, along with several other unions to challenge Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s decision, 

EFF: ‘Matrics are stressed’ 

The EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi tweeted on Monday evening that the decision to undergo rewrites is likely to cause students further stress and anxiety on matric students amidst an already turbulent academic year. 

“Is there truly no other option than asking kids to re-write exams? After COVID-19 and all related stress – kids are stressed!”

“If I were the department I wouldn’t  ask for a re-write. Leaking of papers is no fault of kids. It’s the weak and incompetent department! Angie must re-write!”

He said that forcing the entire country to rewrite the exams is necessary and that a process 

“There’s no need to ask the whole country to re-write. Whoever did not truly learn will be exposed in their first year at varsity. That’s it. Don’t punish an entire generation. The department should have guaranteed no leakage! It’s been a hard year for 2020 class due to Covid!”

Afriforum heading to court over DBE decision 

Afriforum’s Kallie Kriel offered similar sentiments regarding the decision on Monday, and said that it is unfair to punish those matric students who have done nothing wrong.  

“Those that studied and went through the emotional process of writing an exam are being penalised after doing nothing wrong,” he said. 

“You cannot use a blunt instrument by penalising 400 000 pupils because a few hundred cheated.”

Teacher’s union Sadtu is also heading to court on an urgent basis to try and overturn the Basic Education Department’s unprecedented decision.

DA demand preliminary investigation report into matric exam leak

The Democratic Alliance (DA) have also asked for the DBE to publish the results of the preliminary report by the National Investigation Task Team on the leaked Matric examination papers so as to give the public a better understandign of how widespread the leak was.

“It is further worrying that a leak of this kind warrants a total rewrite into not one, but two papers – a first in South African history. The DA therefore demands Motshekga publish the report so that the investigation can be scrutinized for its thoroughness,” said the DA’s Shadow Minister of Basic Education, Baxolile ‘Bax’ Nodada.

“A detailed investigation from the Task Team would identify to what extent the leaked papers were spread. Hopefully this will see thousands of innocent Matriculants across the country not having to rewrite their Mathematics and Physics exam papers during a year – one of the most important in their lives – which has already been disrupted.”

“It is unacceptable that all Matrics have to suffer the consequences of the poor decisions made by a few.”