The future of 20-year-old Gift Mabuza, a matric candidate from Mpumalanga, has been cast into uncertainty after he was barred from sitting for three critical exams at Vulindlela Secondary School. Gift, who is repeating his final year to improve his marks and pursue a degree in financial auditing, claims that he was prevented from writing these exams due to his alleged failure to attend extra lessons—despite attending school regularly.
On 12 November, while preparing for his Economics Paper 1, Gift was reportedly informed by an invigilator that he could not sit for the exam. The invigilator allegedly stated that this decision was based on instructions from the school’s principal. Confused and upset, Gift asked for clarification but was told to direct his questions to the principal.
“I was told I couldn’t write my exam because of an instruction from the principal. When I asked why, the invigilator simply told me to go back to where I took my exams last year,” Gift explained.
In addition to missing his Economics Paper 1, Gift was also prevented from writing his Siswati Paper 2 and English Paper 2. Each time, an invigilator allegedly informed him that the decision had come directly from the principal, leaving Gift without any clear explanation.
This incident has been particularly distressing for Gift, who is repeating his matric year with the goal of improving his grades and qualifying for university. He expressed frustration and disappointment at the situation. “I decided to repeat matric to better my results and go to university. This has affected me mentally. There were times when I felt like vanishing,” he shared.
Gift’s mother, Nonhlanhla Banda, has taken the matter up with the school’s circuit manager, demanding an explanation and a resolution. She insists that attending extra lessons is not mandatory, and believes that her son’s rights to an education are being violated. “There was no valid reason for this. I want the department to ensure my son can write his exams before the others finish,” she said.
Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, confirmed that an investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding Gift’s exclusion from the exams. The department has pledged to address the issue as soon as possible.
Human Rights Commission (HRC) Manager Eric Mokonyama also weighed in on the case, suggesting that the school’s actions could constitute a violation of Gift’s educational rights. “Denying a student access to exams without a valid reason is a breach of their rights to education. We are glad that the department is investigating the matter,” Mokonyama stated.
As Gift and his family await a resolution, the case raises important questions about the rights of students and the responsibilities of schools to ensure fair access to education.
