She said such heinous acts were a reminder of the dangers that many girls face and called for all to stand against such acts as the country observes 16 days of activism against women and child abuse.

“Schools and communities must be places of safety, not spaces of fear, violence and abuse.”

Other challenges in the exam period were protests in various parts of the country, including in Jan Kempdorp in the Northern Cape, in Gert Sibande municipality in Mpumalanga and in Limpopo. Extreme weather in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga also disrupted exams.

“These incidents reinforce the importance of proactive planning and collaboration with disaster management teams, which helped mitigate the impact on pupils,” said Gwarube. “Despite some challenges, the overall administration of the exams has been smooth, with minimal irregularities thanks to the collective efforts of our dedicated educators, administrators and the pupils themselves.”

Once the exams conclude, the focus will move to the 181 marking centres across the country, which opened on Wednesday and involved 50,000 markers.

To ensure fairness and consistency, the department has already conducted 60 out of the 164 planned marking standardisation meetings at which marking guidelines are reviewed and finalised.

Exam results are expected to be released on January 13, with provincial education departments releasing on January 14.

Gwarube said emphasis has been placed on food safety at marking centres. Online workshops on food handling were being conducted for examination managers, marking centre managers and school principals to prevent contamination. Preparations also include ensuring a clean and continuous water supply and adequate hydration in warm areas.

“As we conclude this phase, I also want to address our pupils directly. The end of the exams is a time for celebration but it must be done responsibly. I urge matriculants to refrain from alcohol abuse during ‘pens down’ events or ‘matric rage’ parties.

“These moments should be a celebration of achievement, not a risk to life and safety,” Gwarube said.

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