Matric pupils delayed by protest allowed to write

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi granted concessions for Grade 12 pupils who arrived late for their Matric examinations yesterday morning due to a farmers march on highways.

“It is in our best interests not to disadvantage our pupils for this unfortunate eventuality which is beyond their control.

“It is regrettable that they had to write this important paper under tormenting conditions,” Lesufi said in a statement.

The department said that all the pupils who arrived late were allowed into the examination rooms at different centres in the Tshwane and Sedibeng areas, including those who turned up beyond the one hour cut-off time.

“Some pupils were also allowed to write at alternative centres,” the department said.

“Administrative prescripts will be invoked for all those who missed today’s paper.”

The department added that, according to the information they had, the majority of pupils had written their papers and the number of pupils who missed the exam was minimal.

Yesterday thousands of people took to the streets in different parts of South Africa in a protest dubbed #BlackMonday to raise international awareness about the attacks and killings of farmers in the country.

Several major roads were blocked in cities across the country. – ANA