Matriculation results are usually released in January every year in South Africa, and students can access them through different options, including newspapers. Major newspapers publish Matric results once they are released by the Department of Basic Education (DBE). If you don’t want to wait to collect your results from your exam centre, simply buy your favourite newspaper and get them. Read on to learn everything about the publication of matric results in newspapers.
Will Matric Results Be Published in Newspapers 2026?
At some point in January 2026, the DBE banned the publication of matric results in national newspapers, citing the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act). However, this provision was reversed by the high court in Pretoria following a successful application by a certain student. Therefore, the matric results were published in local newspapers in 2026 as per tradition.
The results are published in the national newspapers on the date they are released. Candidates can search for their results using their matric exam numbers. Full names and complete results are not published but just symbols showing your passes in specific subjects. For instance, B stands for Bachelors Pass, whereas D is for Diploma Pass.
According to the DBE, all students who intend to have their National Senior Certificate (NSC) results published in newspapers must first sign a consent form to protect privacy under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act). The Minister of Basic Education announced the release of matric results on 19 January 2026, and they were officially released and published in newspapers on 20 January 2026.
Which Newspaper Publishes Matric Results?
All major South African newspapers publish matric results. All you need to do is visit your nearest newspaper stand or garage and buy your favourite copy. These papers usually include a special section with matric results showing examination numbers and matric symbols.
Some of the newspapers that publish matric results include the following:
- The Rapport
- Sowetan
- The Argus/Cape Times
- The Star
- The Citizen
- Pretoria News
- City Press
- Beeld
- Daily Maverick
- Rapport
- Mail & Guardian
Other newspapers that publish matric exams are province-based, so it is important to check the ones that offer this service. Additionally, you can also access matric results from different online news websites, including News24, IOL, Matric College, EWN, TimesLive, and the Sowetan.
What Date Will the Matric Results Be Released in 2026?
The results for the December 2026 exams were announced by the Minister of Basic Education on 19 January 2026 and released the following day. In the last 2 years, DBE has consistently released matric results on the 20th of January. The last date for remarking or rechecking of matric exams was 3 February 2026. The release date for these results is usually announced when the process is complete.
Can I Check My Matric Results Online 2026?
Yes, you can check your matric results online, and this is one of the most convenient methods. Candidates can check their results from three websites: the Department of Basic Education Website, the News24 website, and the IEB website.
You need to take the following steps to check your results on the DBE website.
- Visit the Department of Basic Education
- Register your details if you have not done so. If you are already registered, log in using your details, such as name and home language.
- Click on the tab NSC exam results showing the year when the exams were written.
- Enter your 13-digit exam number
- Your results will be displayed on the screen
- Tap on the download and print tab
Another option you can consider to check your matric results is visiting the News24 website. When you open the website, a field will appear on the page where you should enter your examination number. Choose the type of exam between NSC and IEB and click on the appropriate option. Your results will be displayed on the screen. You can download and print them if you want, but you can always get a copy of the original results from your school.
The third method of accessing your matric results is via the IEB website. When you open the site, enter your exam number and date of birth in the field provided. Enter submit to request access to your results, which will be displayed on the screen.
While the option of checking your matric results online is convenient, you need to be patient since you may experience delays caused by slow-loading websites due to increased websites. Thousands of students may be eager to see their results once they’re released, so they will go to their devices. Therefore, you should wait until the results are displayed on the screen. Avoid restarting the process in the middle since this can cause further delays.
When the Department of Education announces the release of matric results, candidates can use different methods to access them. Traditionally, major newspapers in South Africa publish the results, and students can check their passes using exam numbers. Candidate names are not published in newspapers to protect individuals’ privacy. Online news publications also publish matric exams when they’re released.
Alternatively, you can access your results via different online platforms. You must still visit the center where you wrote the exams to collect the original slip. The Department of Basic Education usually releases matric results around the 20th of January every year. Stay up to date with the latest news so that you do not miss out on anything.
