Losing your matric certificate can be catastrophic, but there is no need to worry. There are different methods you can consider to recover your results. This article explains everything you want to know about the steps you can take to get your old matric results.
How Do I Get My Old Matric Results?
When your original Matric certificate is damaged or lost, you can apply for a replacement at your local Department of Basic Education (DBE) or Provincial Education Department. You need to complete a replacement application form. While waiting for a certificate, you can request a statement of results. You can access a replacement application form from the DBE/PED offices or the DBE website. You must first pay the prescribed fee at DBE/PED office or use a postal order at your nearest Post Office.
Take the form to your nearest DBE or PED office together with the following documents:
- Original certificate if damaged
- An affidavit outlining what happened to the original certificate
- A certified copy of the ID
You can download and complete the replacement application form and send it together with the postal order and necessary documents to Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001.
Where to Find Old Matric Results?
You can obtain your old Matric results from the Department of Basic Education or the Provincial Education Department. You will get a form to complete when you visit your local DBE/PED. You need to follow the steps above to complete your application for retrieval of your old results.
Alternatively, you can apply for old Matric results via the Umalusi application portal at https://www.umalusi-online.org.za/ReplacementCertificate/Account/Register. You must first create an account on the Umalusi platform and choose the certificate you want to replace. Scan all the documents mentioned above and upload them to the platform together with your application.
To use the Umalusi option, you can collect the certificate at their offices in Pretoria upon payment of R137.00, or the certificate will be delivered to your place for a fee of R202.00. However, you should note that the fees are subject to change without notice.
Can You Find Your Matric Certificate Online?
You can apply for a replacement certificate online via the Umalusi application portal. When the new certificate has been processed, it will be delivered to you. Additionally, you can apply for your Matric certificate online if you want to combine your credits. This option is only available to people who have written Matric exams in more than one sitting. This will help you get a Senior Certificate or National Senior Certificate. You can apply online via www.eservices.gov.za.
You must first register as a user to be able to apply for a certificate via this e-government portal. You must submit the following electronic documents to support your application for another Matric certificate online.
- Certified copy of ID
- Proof of payment
- Damaged certificate
- Affidavit outlining what happened to your original certificate
Ensure you indicate the certificate you want to obtain and provide the required fees to make the process seamless.
How Can I Check My Matric Certificate Is Original?
If you lose a Matric certificate or it gets damaged, you can apply for another one through the above-mentioned channels. However, you may still need to verify if it is original to avoid counterfeits.
If your certificate was issued before 1992, you can have it verified at different Provincial Departments of Education. For all Matric certificates issued post-1992, you can contact Umalusi by email at verification@umalusi.org.za or phone at 012 349 1510 to verify your certificate. Umalusi and MIE have a binding agreement where Umalusi verifies Senior Certificates for Grade 12.
You cannot apply directly to Umalusi for verification of your certificate. Instead, you can do this through agents registered with Amalusi. Check the list of registered agents in your area who can process the verification of your certificate. Remember, these agents charge different fees for the verification services offered. You can get quotations from multiple agents to get the best deal.
You can also request a copy of your Matric certificate from the Department of Education. The copy you’ll get from the DBE will be authentic since it is the official channel that deals with Matric certificates.
You can use the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD) via the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) to verify your educational qualifications, including your Matric certificate. You can request a full record of details concerning your academic qualifications from NLRD.
When your information is not found in the SAQA search, it means your certificate might not be genuine. If your certificate has spelling errors or missing information, it might not appear in the NLRD database. Therefore, ensure all the details on your certificate are correct before you start the verification exercise.
You can lose your original Matric results or certificate by mistake, but there is no reason to stress since you can recover them. You can get your results from the Department of Basic Education or apply through Umalusi for a replacement certificate. Remember to take note of the charges involved in the retrieval of old results by different agencies.
