08/09/2026
2026 NSC PROVINCIAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN: PINETOWN DISTRICT
As part of the 2026 Provincial NSC Advocacy Campaign, Chief Invigilators, Invigilators and Monitors from across the Pinetown District gathered at Westville Boys’ High School for a focused engagement aimed at strengthening examination readiness, reinforcing prescribed procedures and ensuring that officials fully understand their responsibilities in safeguarding the examination process.
Welcoming delegates on behalf of the District Director, Ms Sibongile Nkosi-Tembe, in absentia, Dr Pushpa Gramanie, Chief Education Specialist: Examinations, Pinetown District, emphasised the pivotal role played by examination officials in protecting the credibility of the NSC examinations.
She urged officials to ensure that every candidate is provided with an examination environment that is fair, secure, professional and free from irregularities.
With Pinetown District setting an ambitious 97.2% target for 2026, representing a five-percentage-point improvement on its 92.2% achievement in 2025, stakeholders were encouraged to remain united, focused and committed to improved learner outcomes while upholding the highest standards of examination integrity.
Programme Director, Mrs Zanele Radebe, Chief Education Specialist: Irregularities and Monitoring, reminded officials that the credibility of the examination system depends on the conduct of every individual involved.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Raymond Penniston, Chief Director: Examinations, Assessments and Quality Assurance, underscored the importance of the NSC examinations as a key measure of learner achievement. He called on all examination personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, vigilance and accountability throughout the examination period.
He congratulated Pinetown District for having an irregularity-free examination in 2025 and encouraged all officials to work towards achieving the same status for the 2026 NSC examinations.
Dr Penniston highlighted five essential attributes of integrity that should guide every examination official:
🔹 Honesty – doing what is right and ensuring actions reflect ethical values.
🔹 Consistency – applying examination rules and standards fairly in every situation.
🔹 Accountability – taking responsibility for decisions, actions and mistakes.
🔹 Commitment to Principles – standing firm on ethical standards, even under pressure.
🔹 Trustworthiness – being dependable, fair and faithful to one’s responsibilities.
Mr Edwin Sibusiso Khanyile, Director: Examination and Administration, outlined the objectives of the advocacy campaign and reinforced the five pillars that underpin credible examinations:
Integrity • Credibility • Fairness • Reliability • Validity
The engagement further unpacked critical aspects of the examination cycle, including effective invigilation, examination administration, secure handling and management of scripts, identification and reporting of irregularities, marking processes and monitoring mechanisms.
Mr Phila Ntumba, Acting Director: Assessment, unpacked the 2026 NSC examination non-negotiables, highlighting the importance of standardised invigilator training, uniform implementation of examination procedures, resident monitoring at identified high-risk centres, stringent Distribution Point Management and strict adherence to prescribed script distribution and collection schedules.
Mr Ntumba also highlighted the serious consequences of examination malpractice, reminding officials that candidates involved in malpractice may be removed from the examination room and could face disqualification from writing examinations in accordance with applicable regulations.
He further announced that the Learner Pledge Signing Ceremony will take place on 9 October 2026, providing learners with an opportunity to publicly affirm their commitment to honesty, integrity and ethical conduct during the examinations.
The message is clear and non-negotiable:
🚫 NO CRIB NOTES
🚫 NO IMPOSTERS
🚫 NO MISSING SCRIPTS
🚫 NO CELL PHONES
🚫 NO GROUP COPYING
The Department is calling on every examination official to take ownership of their responsibilities and play an active role in protecting the integrity, credibility, security and fairness of the 2026 NSC examinations.
One Examination. One Standard. One Shared Responsibility. ZERO Irregularities.
Date: 8 September 2026
Venue: Westville Boys’ High School, Pinetown District
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