The basic education department has expressed concern after service delivery protests in Gauteng prevented matric pupils writing their final year exams.
At least 53 matric pupils in Etwatwa were prevented from sitting for their final exams last week due to protests.
The department’s director-general Mathanzima Mweli said service delivery protests are the biggest threat to matric exams.
During a media briefing, Mweli pleaded with communities, civil society and other stakeholders not to prevent pupils getting to examinations, saying they have endured enough trauma.
“We appeal to community members to allow the examinations to proceed. The repercussions for not doing so are devastating to pupils and the communities themselves as it is the children of the same communities who…