POLOKWANE – Eleven learners implicated in the leak of a life sciences exam paper last week could have criminal charges laid against them.
This comes after the Department of Basic Education found the leak began at Marude High School near Thohoyandou and later spread to Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, last week admitted a leak had occurred but that the department was not sure how it happened.
However, investigations into the matter have revealed the problem is widespread after the paper was shared electronically by the learners.
“We interviewed eight learners who had access to the paper and seven of them admitted it,” education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said. The learners shared the content with two learners in Gauteng, who in turn shared it with two learners in Mpumalanga.
Mhlanga added that this, however, does not mean there has been a leak in Gauteng or Mpumalanga. “It seems that the three provinces are linked by the same group of people and we expect criminal charges to be pressed against certain individuals.”
Mhlanga said investigations took place with the cooperation of the Hawks as well as the Commercial Crimes Unit.
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