1. The rules for the Senior Certificate examinations, as they appear on each candidate’s personal timetable as well as in the answer books, state very clearly that no candidate may have a cellphone in his or her possession in the examination venue. It is immaterial whether the phone is switched on or not, or whether it is used, merely having a cellphone in the examination venue is an examination irregularity.
2. Principals and heads of institutions that are utilised as examination venues are requested to ensure that this rule is strictly enforced. The necessary arrangements must be made to ensure that candidates who bring cellphones with them to an examination session have a safe place in which to leave them and that cellphone owners get their own cellphones back again afterwards. Some institutions attach a number to the cellphone when it is handed in, and give the candidate a card on which a duplicate of the number appears. After the examination session the candidate retrieves his or her own cellphone after submitting this card.
3. Advanced cellphone technology now makes it possible to download specific information onto a cellphone. Proof of this was discovered during the writing of the 2004 Senior Certificate examination, and this led to a candidate's result in the subject concerned being declared null and void.
4. All invigilators will be instructed to be particularly aware of this in forthcoming examinations, and heads of institutions are requested to do as much as possible to ensure that no candidates at their centres expose themselves to investigation by the Department for an irregularity.
5. Principals and centre managers are requested to bring this information to the attention of all their candidates before the commencement of all examinations.


SIGNED: B.K. SCHREUDER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2005:01:28