Sipho Hlomuka, the education minister of KwaZulu-Natal province, expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the 2026 final examinations in the province.
During an inspection visit to Academical High School in the King Cetshwayo district on Thursday, Hlomuka observed students taking exams in English in their home language, first additional language, and second additional language.
He highly praised the work of the school's management, teachers, and invigilators for their dedication in maintaining a structured and conducive atmosphere for the exams thus far.
Hlomuka stated: 'We are satisfied with the progress made. What we saw at Academical High School reflects the extensive planning and preparation undertaken by the department so that our students can demonstrate their knowledge and abilities under the best possible conditions.'
According to Hlomuka's statement on staff readiness, KwaZulu-Natal is conducting the largest final examination to date, having registered 203,815 candidates studying both full-time and part-time.
This represents an increase of 7,916 candidates, or about 4%, compared to the previous year, indicating a rise in the number of students reaching the final stages of their education.
The department reported that over 31,156 trained invigilators will oversee the examination sessions across more than 1,700 centers throughout the examination period.
Hlomuka emphasized the department's commitment to protecting the validity and integrity of the exams, noting: 'It is crucial to maintain the highest standards of fairness throughout this important process.'
Candidates began taking the first exam on Tuesday, with completion scheduled for November 26.
Minister of Basic Education, Sivive Gwarube, previously announced that South Africa's Class of 2026 is ready for the final examinations, with nearly 963,000 candidates registered, studying full-time and part-time, for the October-November session.
Gwarube reported that all candidates nationwide have been provided with the necessary support to successfully take the exams, and staff have been adequately trained to ensure the smooth running of the process.