Two sentenced for leaking the 2020 matric mathematics exam paper
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Archives
Two people were found guilty of leaking the 2020 matric mathematics exam paper.
Themba Daniel Shikwambana, a 36-year-old, and Thobile Sweetbetter Duze 48-year-old, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on July 23.
They pleaded guilty to stealing a matric exam question paper and were sentenced accordingly.
Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo said that on November 16 2020, the Department of Basic Education received a tip-off about a possible leak of the matric Mathematics exam paper, which had allegedly been circulated via WhatsApp.
'The department was alerted via a WhatsApp photograph, which was later verified and confirmed to be a true copy of the 2020 Mathematics Paper 2 exam paper.'
He stated that the initial investigation revealed that several learners in Limpopo and Gauteng had admitted to receiving the leaked exam paper via WhatsApp.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team at their Pretoria headquarters for a comprehensive investigation.
Singo further revealed that following the leak, Shikwambana was located in Gauteng's Orange Farm, while Duze was arrested in 2021 in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal.
'On 25 November 2020, Shikwambana, who was working at a printing company in Johannesburg, where exam papers were printed, was traced and arrested in Gauteng, Orange Farm.
'Further investigation led to the arrest of Duze on 10 June 2021 in KwaZulu-Natal, Port Shepstone. The accused appeared in court on several occasions, culminating in their recent conviction,' he added.
The court sentenced the duo to pay a R100 000 fine or serve twelve months in prison, with half of the fine (R50,000) or six months imprisonment suspended for five years, provided they are not found guilty of the same offence during that suspension period.
The court further ruled that Shikwambana and Duze must repay the R50 000 fine in monthly instalments of R5 000, with the full amount due by April 2026.
Singo also stated that the court handed down a three-year prison sentence to the accused, wholly suspended for five years, on the condition that they are not found guilty of a similar offence during that time.
The Basic Education Department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, responded to the news by welcoming the conclusion of the case and the guilty pleas. However, he expressed that the department would have preferred a stricter sentence given the sensitive nature of the examinations.
'We welcome the conclusion of the matter and the guilty plea. We would have preferred a harsher penalty owing to the sensitive nature of the examinations.
'We, however, appreciate the work done by The Hawks and that we hope this matter will serve as an example that we take seriously the security of examination question papers.'
The 2020 exam scandal caused major disruption after the Physical Science Paper 2 was also leaked just hours before the exam.
However, an investigation by the National Investigations Task Team confirmed that despite the leaks of both mathematics and physics papers, the integrity of the overall 2020 matric exams remained intact.
Are exams an effective way to assess students' readiness for post-school life?
Critics say that while exams play a role in assessing student learning, they are not sufficient on their own to determine readiness for post-school life.
A combination of diverse assessment methods, including continuous assessment, practical assessments, and opportunities for students to showcase their skills and knowledge, is crucial for providing a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of their preparedness for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
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