Zimbabwean Grade 12 candidates who previously left South Africa without successfully registering for their matric exams are being considered for assistance to return so they can write the 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams in Johannesburg. Coverage says the affected learners include those who cannot sit the examinations due to registration challenges linked to their earlier departure.
The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Coordinating Committee (ZEPCC) is described as approaching South Africa’s Department of Basic Education with a plan to support the learners ahead of the 2026 exam cycle. One outlet frames the issue as a question of whether repatriated candidates will return to South Africa to complete their schooling assessments.
While the reports agree on the core proposal—enabling unregistered or affected Zimbabwean candidates to take the NSC in 2026—the outlets differ slightly in emphasis, with one focusing on the likelihood of return and the assistance plan being discussed with the education department, and the other focusing on the prospect of their repatriation to Johannesburg for the exams.
