South Africa's 2026 matric exams: 1.08 million candidates registered

What happened

Umalusi says 989,141 candidates are registered for the National Senior Certificate. Matric exams run from 13 October to 26 November 2026 at 9,183 centres, with monitors sent to high-risk venues.

Why it may matter

• This is time-bound — there is an application or deadline involved, so check the dates before they pass.
• Approved, so it is now going ahead rather than being proposed.
• Affects students in South Africa.