Statement by André Gaum, Western Cape Education Minister

I am pleased to report that the South African Police Services have made substantial progress in their investigation into the theft of a Senior Certificate examination paper at a school in Crossroads on Wednesday (23 October 2002).

The SAPS has recovered the Business Economics Standard Grade paper, which a learner removed from the Nelson Mandela High School after it was handed out in error during an Economics Standard Grade examination.

The police are investigating criminal charges, and have questioned the learner believed to be responsible for the theft.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will take appropriate disciplinary action against those responsible for the proper management of the examinations at the school.

The department has also replaced invigilators at the school for the rest of the Senior Certificate examinations.

The department has printed a new Business Economics Standard Grade paper, which will replace the paper that was stolen.

Logistics are in place to ensure that the 21 000 learners writing Business Economics will be able to do so on schedule on Monday (28 October 2002) at 09h00.

Umalusi (the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training), formerly Safcert, has already moderated the paper, as part of normal procedures.

We are pleased to report that candidates for the Business Economics examination across the province will not be inconvenienced by this incident.

We are grateful to the police for their prompt response on this matter, as well as to WCED staff who are working around the clock to ensure that the Business Economics examination will proceed as planned on Monday.