Statement by André Gaum, Western Cape Education Minister

South African Police Services have arrested a chief invigilator who has confessed to stealing copies of three Senior Certificate examination papers at Khanyolwethu Secondary School in Lwandle, Strand, this week.

The invigilator is expected to appear in court today. She told police that she took copies of Mathematics, Biology and Geography standard grade papers from the school safe after entering the safe legitimately to fetch papers for another examination.

She reportedly told police that she gave copies of the papers to no more than two learners. Police immediately recovered all the papers involved.

The police assembled a high-level task team to investigate the theft. The police and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) are confident that the leak has been contained.

Senior Certificate candidates wrote Mathematics higher and standard grade Paper Two examinations this morning (Friday, 8 November 2002).

The WCED replaced the Mathematics standard grade paper at Khanyolwethu and three other examination centres in the area overnight with a back-up paper as a precautionary measure.

The department will also monitor unexpected results for further investigation if this is considered necessary. This morning’s examination covers geometry and trigonometry.

The Strand police acted immediately yesterday (Thursday, 7 November 2002), after receiving a tip-off that the Mathematics standard grade paper had been leaked.

The prompt action of the WCED, the police and the community succeeded in containing the leak, and in ensuring an arrest soon afterwards.

Theft of examination papers is totally unacceptable, and those responsible will feel the full force of the law. Our invigilators receive training on our security procedures and are well aware of their responsibilities in this regard.

We deeply appreciate the assistance of the public and the prompt detective work of the police in the matter. Thanks to their work, we have managed to contain a problem, which could have had much more serious implications.