South Africa Matric Results 2025: How To Find Your NSC Results in Newspapers

Published: January 8, 2026

The wait is almost over for the Class of 2025! The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has officially confirmed that the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results will be made available to accredited newspapers for publication soon.

Mark Your Calendars: Results will be published on Tuesday, 13 January 2026.

This announcement follows the Department’s commitment to making results accessible to learners and parents while strictly adhering to South African privacy laws and court mandates.

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Privacy First: The "Pseudonymised" Format

If you are planning to grab a newspaper to check your results, it is important to know what to look for. Following a court order granted on 18 January 2022, the results will be published in a pseudonymised format.

To protect your personal data, you will NOT see names, surnames, or ID numbers in the paper. Instead, results will be listed using:

• Examination Numbers
• Exam Results

Why Newspapers Still Matter

While digital platforms are widely used, the DBE emphasizes that newspaper publication remains an "important and accessible method" for learners and parents to obtain results timeously. It ensures that the results reach every corner of the country, balancing accessibility with the protection of personal information.

Legal Context & The Information Regulator

The Department also addressed recent legal discussions, confirming that it will oppose the application for leave to appeal by the Information Regulator. The DBE maintains that the current method of publication is legally sound, court-endorsed, and acts in the best interest of the learners and the education sector.

Official DBE Contacts:

• Terence Khala (Acting Director – Communication and Research): 081 758 1546
• Lukhanyo Vangqa (Media Liaison Officer): 066 302 1533

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Congratulations to the Class of 2025! Good luck to all learners awaiting their results.