South Africa’s 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations will take a three-day break in November to accommodate the local government elections scheduled for Wednesday, 4 November.
The examinations will be suspended from Tuesday, 3 November, through Thursday, 5 November, before resuming on Friday, 6 November. Monday, 9 November, has also been designated a non-examination day.
The changes affect the October/November matric examination period, which began nationwide on Tuesday, 13 October, and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, 26 November.
Umalusi Confirms Adjustments to Examination Schedule
Umalusi chief executive officer Mafu Rakometsi confirmed the revised timetable during a state of readiness briefing on 8 October.
He said the examination schedule had been amended to accommodate the elections, as had been done during the previous local government elections in 2021.
Rakometsi explained that political activities and community protests had been identified as potential threats to the smooth administration of the examinations.
The election period could bring gatherings and demonstrations near schools being used as examination centres, creating possible disruptions for candidates and examination staff.
Education Authorities to Work With Election Stakeholders
Umalusi will collaborate with assessment bodies, provincial education departments and other stakeholders to reduce the risk of election-related disturbances during the examination period.
The council has called on political parties and community organisations to ensure that activities associated with the elections do not interfere with examinations or learners’ preparation.
Schools serving as examination centres are expected to remain suitable environments for candidates to complete their assessments.
Political and Community Leaders Urged to Protect Learners
Rakometsi appealed to political and community leaders, school principals, teachers and parents to help prevent unnecessary disruptions during the examination period.
He noted that many schools used as voting stations also provide extra classes during weekends and school holidays to help matric candidates prepare for their examinations.
Umalusi has urged stakeholders to limit political activity around examination venues and ensure that learners can continue studying without interference.
The council said efforts should be made to prevent any candidate from being unfairly disadvantaged by activities connected to the elections.
Matric Examinations Continue Until 26 November
The 2026 NSC examinations are scheduled to end on Thursday, 26 November.
Candidates have been advised to consult the official examination timetable to confirm the dates and times of their individual subjects and organise their revision around the revised schedule.
Examination Timetable for 2 to 6 November
The week begins with Physical Sciences Paper 2 and Technical Sciences Paper 2 on Monday, 2 November, followed by Religion Studies Paper 1 in the afternoon.
No examinations will take place from Tuesday, 3 November, to Thursday, 5 November.
Examinations resume on Friday, 6 November, with several home-language, first-additional-language and second-additional-language papers scheduled for the morning.
The afternoon session will include Consumer Studies and Hospitality Studies.
| Date | Time | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, 2 November | 09:00 | Physical Sciences Paper 2 – Chemistry (3 hours); Technical Sciences Paper 2 (1½ hours) |
| Monday, 2 November | 14:00 | Religion Studies Paper 1 (2 hours) |
| Tuesday, 3 November | — | No examinations |
| Wednesday, 4 November | — | No examinations |
| Thursday, 5 November | — | No examinations |
| Friday, 6 November | 09:00 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati and isiNdebele Home Language Paper 1, First Additional Language Paper 1 and Second Additional Language Paper 1 (2 hours each) |
| Friday, 6 November | 14:00 | Consumer Studies (3 hours); Hospitality Studies (3 hours) |
The revised timetable is intended to accommodate election activities while allowing the 2026 matric examinations to continue according to the amended schedule.
