Umalusi, the quality assurance body, has announced the arrest of 11 suspects by the police for allegedly selling fake matric certificates. Umalusi CEO, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, revealed these details during a media briefing in Pretoria pertaining to the release of matric exam results on Friday.

 Dr Rakometsi said that the Hawks have also arrested an employee of the Department of Higher Education and Training for fraudulently selling a diploma certificate. He said they've been working closely with law enforcement and some of the arrests are from last year. "The first two suspects were arrested in Burgersfort, Limpopo on 27 October. One suspect was arrested in Pretoria in November while the next three were arrested on 20 November and the last five on 13 December 2023 again in Burgersfort," said Rakometsi.

Rakometsi said their mandate was to issue authentic and verifiable certificates and, in the process, protect the long-standing credibility of Umalusi. "Police investigations are ongoing and Umalusi will continue to work closely with the law enforcement agencies in whatever way possible to ensure that the scammers or fraudsters face the full might of the law." The Department of Basic Education said it is important that they alert members of the public about this criminal act as it threatens the integrity of the National Senior Certificate examination process as well as bringing into question the security and authenticity of the matric certificate.