Latest news with #Shikwambana
IOL News
5 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.
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Two sentenced for leaking the 2020 matric mathematics exam paper
Two individuals face penalties after leaking a crucial 2020 matric mathematics exam, raising concerns about exam integrity in South Africa. 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. The Star [email protected]
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- TimesLIVE
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.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Two men sentenced for leaking 2020 matric maths paper
Two men who leaked the 2020 matric maths exam were sentenced after pleading guilty in court. Matric pupils at Sekano Ntoane Secondary School in Soweto prepare to sit for their first matric exam. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark Two men were sentenced by the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty for their involvement in the leaking of a 2020 matric exam paper. Thirty-six-year-old Themba Daniel Shikwambana and 48-year-old Thobile Sweetbetter Duze pleaded guilty to the theft of the Mathematics Paper 2 exam. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) was notified on 16 November 2022 about a possible leak of the maths exam paper. Maths paper leaked via WhatsApp After being verified as a genuine copy of the 2020 Mathematics Paper 2 exam paper, the department was notified via a WhatsApp photo. Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo said a preliminary investigation revealed that some pupils in Limpopo and Gauteng confirmed they had received the leaked exam paper via WhatsApp. ALSO READ: Suspect in matric maths paper leak case gets bail The leak was then reported to the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Pretoria for further investigation. On 25 November 2020, authorities traced and arrested Shikwambana in Orange Farm. At the time, he worked at a Johannesburg printing company responsible for printing exam papers. Further investigation led to the arrest of Duze on 10 June 2021 in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal. Shikwambana and Duze fined and given suspended sentences The Johannesburg Magistrate's Court sentenced Shikwambana and Duze to a fine of R100 000 or 12 months' imprisonment. The court suspended half of the fine – R50 000 or six months' imprisonment – for five years, on the condition that they are not convicted of a similar offence during the suspension period. ALSO READ: Officials mum on government printers being source of matric science paper leak The court also ordered them to pay the remaining R50 000 in monthly instalments of R5 000 by April 2026. The accused was also given a three-year prison sentence that was fully suspended for five years, provided they were not found guilty of the same crime during that time. 2020 leaked exam scandal The same year, the Physical Science Paper 2 was also leaked to pupils hours before being written. The scandal sparked a legal battle over whether the matric class of 2020 had to rewrite the two leaked final exams. On 11 December 2020, Gauteng High Court Judge Norman Davis ruled that the decision to force a rewrite was unlawful, finding that then-minister Angie Motshekga did not have the authority to make that call. NOW READ: Class of 2020: Union, dept butting heads over matric paper rewrites
SowetanLIVE
07-06-2025
- Business
- SowetanLIVE
Joshco bridges housing gap for missing middle residents
Construction is under way on what will become the largest phase of the Johannesburg Social Housing Company's (Joshco) Riverside View project in Diepsloot, which will add more than 700 new units to the growing social housing development. During an oversight visit, Nhlamulo Shikwambana, Joshco's acting COO, said 'the development has already completed three phases, with tenants living in over 300 units, and construction of phase 4 now under way'. 'Once complete, phase 4 will add over 700 more units. This is going to be our biggest build in the area. The plan is to reach over 1,000 units in Diepsloot' Shikwambana said the project is specifically aimed at South Africans in the 'missing middle', those who earn too much to qualify for RDP houses but too little to afford bonded homes. 'We are closing the gap for people who fall through the cracks. Most of our residents come from informal areas. We want them to feel safe and comfortable without being financially overstretched,' added Shikwambana.
