Latest news with #ThembaDanielShikwambana
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Pair sentenced for leaking matric paper
Two men admitted to unlawfully distributing the Mathematics Paper 2 exam, which caused significant disruption for learners and education authorities across the country. Image: File Two men have been sentenced by the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty to leaking the 2020 matric mathematics exam paper. The case, which stirred nationwide concern over exam security, involved Themba Daniel Shikwambana, 36, and Thobile Sweetbetter Duze, 48. Both men admitted to unlawfully distributing the Mathematics Paper 2 exam, which caused significant disruption for learners and education authorities across the country. The Department of Basic Education first became aware of the leak on November 16, 2020, when a verified copy of the exam paper surfaced on WhatsApp. The exam paper was confirmed to be genuine after the department received reports that learners in Limpopo and Gauteng had access to the test ahead of the scheduled exam date. The early circulation of the exam prompted immediate concern and sparked an investigation by law enforcement. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo explained that the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Pretoria was tasked with the probe. This led to the arrest of Shikwambana on November 25, 2020, in Orange Farm. At the time, Shikwambana was employed by a printing company in Johannesburg, responsible for producing official exam materials. Authorities suspect he had access to the papers before they were distributed to schools. The investigation expanded and eventually led to the arrest of Duze on June 10, 2021, in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal. Both men faced charges related to the theft and unlawful distribution of examination papers. Their actions exposed serious weaknesses in the handling and protection of national exam materials, raising concerns about the safety and fairness of the education system. On July 23, 2025, the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court handed down sentences. Both men were fined 100,000 rand or faced 12 months in prison. However, the court suspended half of the fine, 50,000 rand, on the condition that they neither commit similar offences over the next five years. The remaining fine must be paid in monthly instalments of 5,000 rand by April 2026. Additionally, the court issued a fully suspended three-year prison sentence, which will only be enforced if either man commits a similar crime during the suspension period. This case formed part of a larger scandal in 2020 when the Physical Science Paper 2 was also leaked just hours before the exam was to be written. Both leaks caused widespread confusion and uncertainty for matric learners who were already coping with challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. These incidents undermined confidence in the examination system and led to legal debates on how to proceed with affected exams. In December 2020, the Gauteng High Court ruled that Education Minister Angie Motshekga did not have the authority to force learners to rewrite the exams. This judgment brought some relief to students, but the damage to the education system's reputation was already significant. The leak highlighted vulnerabilities within the exam security framework and triggered calls for tighter controls and more accountability within the Department of Basic Education. Since then, the department has made efforts to improve the security of exam papers to prevent future leaks. Many learners and educators viewed the leaks as an unfair addition to the difficulties faced during a challenging year marked by school closures and disruptions. The 2020 matric class had to contend with multiple obstacles, and the exam leaks added further pressure and anxiety. The court's ruling serves as a warning that exam fraud and theft of official documents will not be tolerated. It is hoped that this decision will deter future attempts to compromise the integrity of South Africa's education system. Ensuring that examinations remain secure and fair is essential for maintaining trust in the country's academic standards.
The Herald
6 days ago
- The Herald
Two sentenced for 2020 matric exam paper theft
The Johannesburg magistrate's court on Wednesday convicted and sentenced two people who stole a 2020 mathematics matric question paper. Themba Daniel Shikwambana, 36, and Thobile Sweetbetter Duze, 48, pleaded guilty to theft. The Hawks said on November 16 2020, the department of basic education received information about a possible leak of a mathematics matric exam question paper. 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. Investigations revealed some pupils in Limpopo and Gauteng confirmed receiving the leaked paper via WhatsApp. The matter was then reported to the Hawks' serious commercial crime investigation team based in Pretoria for further investigation. 'On November 25 2020, Shikwambana, who was working at a printing company in Johannesburg where exam papers were printed, was traced and arrested in Orange Farm. 'Further investigation led to the arrest of Duze on June 10 2021 in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal,' Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Christopher Singo said. The accused appeared in court on several occasions culminating in their recent conviction. The court sentenced Shikwambana and Duze to a fine of R100,000 or 12 months' imprisonment, of which R50,000 or six months' imprisonment is suspended for five years on condition that they are not convicted of the same offence during the period of suspension. The court ordered them to pay the fine of R50,000 in monthly instalments of R5,000 on or before April 2026. TimesLIVE
The South African
7 days ago
- The South African
Guilty pleas for duo in matric exam paper scandal
The Johannesburg Magistrates' Court sentenced Themba Daniel Shikwambana (36) and Thobile Sweetbetter Duze (48) on 23 July 2025 for stealing a 2020 matric maths exam paper. The court fined the pair R100 000 or twelve months' imprisonment, with R50 000 or six months of the sentence suspended for five years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence. They are required to pay the remaining R50 000 in monthly instalments of R5 000 by April 2026. Additionally, they received a three-year imprisonment sentence wholly suspended for five years. The leak was first reported on 16 November 2020 when the Department of Basic Education (DBE) received a WhatsApp photograph of the 2020 Mathematics Paper 2 exam paper. The image was verified as an authentic copy of the exam. A preliminary investigation revealed that some learners in Limpopo and Gauteng had received the leaked paper via WhatsApp. The DBE reported the incident to the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, which launched a probe. Police arrested Shikwambana on 25 November 2020 in Orange Farm, Gauteng, where he worked at a Johannesburg printing company that printed exam papers. Further investigations led to the arrest of Duze on 10 June 2021 in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal. Both appeared in court multiple times before their conviction. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
