AfriForum launches urgent court bid to have matric results published in media
Lobby group AfriForum says it plans to oppose the Department of Basic Education’s decision to hold back on the publication of matric results in the media.
The decision, a first in the country’s history, was announced at the start of the week - bringing to an end a controversial tradition.
The department cited the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) as the reason to not publish the much-anticipated results expected out later this month.
The decision was applauded by some quarters.
But AfriForum is expected to oppose the move on an urgent basis in court.
The lobby group, along with Maroela Media and Anlé Spies, a 2021 matriculant, served Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga with papers on Friday.
“To water down the magnitude of the occasion, will eventually undermine the pursuit of excellence in education,” said AfriForum’s Natasha Venter.
Venter accused the departmental hiding behind POPIA.
“Only the examination numbers of the students are published on media platforms, in other words no personal information or the identities of learners will be made public without their consent.
In a democratic country information must, within the ambit of the law, be freely available and this is a principle that the Department should support,” Venter added.
The urgent application will be heard in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday, before the matric results are made available on 20 January.
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