The Information Regulator is seeking to block the publication of the Class of 2024 matric results, citing violations of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI). The Basic Education Department has challenged the enforcement notice, arguing that the current format protects student privacy. The case is expected to be heard in court just days before the results are released.
The Basic Education Department is facing legal action from the Information Regulator over the publishing of matric results . The case is expected to be heard on January 7th, just days before the Class of 2024 results are released. The Information Regulator previously issued an enforcement notice on the department, claiming the publishing of results violated the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI).
The Information Regulator Chairperson Pansy Tlakula says the department failed to respond in time to the enforcement notice and was served with an infringement notice. She explains that they imposed a R5 million fine on the Basic Education Department for failing to protect student privacy. The department has challenged the enforcement notice, arguing that the current format does not violate the privacy of learners as no identifiable information is published. The information regulator has now approached the Pretoria High Court with an urgent application just days before results are set to be released in January
Information Regulator Basic Education Department Matric Results POPI Act Data Privacy
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Department of Basic Education challenges Information Regulator's enforcement notice on matric resultsThe Department of Basic Education has lodged an application to set aside the enforcement notice issued by the Information Regulator.
Read more »
Information Regulator Fines Basic Education Department R5 Million for Matric Results PublicationThe Information Regulator has imposed a R5 million fine on South Africa's Basic Education Department (DBE) for its plan to publish 2024 matriculation results in newspapers. The regulator argued that this practice violates the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia). The DBE was ordered to provide an undertaking that it would not publish the results in the media, but failed to comply within the stipulated timeframe.
Read more »
Information Regulator's enforcement notice preventing publication of matric results unlawfulThe Department of Basic Education has launched a lawsuit at the North Gauteng High Court to appeal November’s notice.
Read more »
South Africa's Matric Results to Be Published in Newspapers Despite Regulator's ConcernsThe Department of Basic Education (DBE) in South Africa will continue publishing matriculation exam results in newspapers, despite an instruction from the Information Regulator to stop the practice. The regulator cited concerns about the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) infringement, arguing the DBE lacked consent from students or their parents for publishing results. However, the DBE appealed the decision, claiming the regulator can only address past or present breaches, not anticipate future ones.
Read more »
South African Education Department Fined for Violating Data Protection LawsThe Department of Basic Education in South Africa has been fined R5 million for disobeying an order from the Information Regulator to stop publishing matriculation (high school graduation) results in national newspapers. The regulator cited violations of the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia), arguing that publishing results in newspapers without proper consent breaches data privacy. The department was instructed to make results available through secure and compliant methods like direct collection from schools or a confidential SMS service.
Read more »
DBE looks to resolve matric results publication impasseThe Department of Basic Education plans to engage the Information Regulator after it was ordered to pay R5 million for its failure to comply with a POPIA enforcement notice.
Read more »