Information regulator vs DBE – What’s happening?
The Information Regulator banned DBE from publishing the matric results in 2024 in the newspapers. However, the DBE has decided to ignore this notice and publish the results in print media regardless. But, that is not the end of the story. the IR wants to pursue this matter and has fined the DBE R5 million. The DBE has rejected the fine.
Let’s have a deeper look at this story.
The Information Regulator’s side of the story
The IR claims that the DBE violates the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). However, the Department of Basic Education claims that the personal information of students is protected. You cannot reveal any student’s name to the public with exam numbers alone. And they are only publishing the exam numbers in the newspapers.
However, the Information Regulator thinks the other way.
Information Regulator’s POV
The IR states that whatever the DBE does violates the POPIA. Hence, they had asked them to give an undertaking that they would not publish the results in the newspapers. However, the DBE hasn’t given the undertaking. Hence, the IR has imposed a fine of R5 Million.
What will happen next?
The DBE has defied the fine notice and still contains its intent to publish the results in the newspapers. Their spokesperson states that a high court judge has confirmed that DBE publishing the results in the newspapers is not violating any rules. Hence, they will continue the practice.
They stated that if IR sees any problem with this, they can try to prove this in court. The Information Regulator is going to appear in the court and the hearing is on 7 January 2025. They stand by their stance that DBE is violating POPIA.
Concluding remarks
Whatever happens, it will affect how things will happen in the future. If the DBE wins, the practice of publishing the results in the newspapers will continue. However, if the IR wins, this will mean the end of this discussion.
People are also speculating that this matter is not a big deal since publishing the results in the newspapers would eventually lose its relevance. South Africa is becoming digital day by day. The DBE would eventually end this practice anyways.
Whatever happens, we will keep you guys updated and in the loop. Make sure you have turned on the notifications!