As South Africa’s 2025 matric exams got underway this week, thousands of pupils across the Western Cape took their seats for one of the most important chapters of their school careers.
By the end of the week, they completed their first set of papers, a milestone filled with nerves, hope and, for many, an enormous sense of relief.
But in gang-ravaged communities like Hanover Park and Mitchells Plain, the excitement of exam season is often shadowed by fear and loss.
Eighteen-year-old Abdul Muizz “Tabba” Diedericks would have been among the learners sitting for his final exams. However, his seat is empty. Muizz, a matriculant from Hanover Park, was shot and killed on 11 October 2025 in Judo Street when he was approached by unknown gunmen. No arrests have yet been made.
For his classmates, the tragedy has been a cruel reminder of the dangers that many young people face just trying to get to the end of their school career and start a better future.
A Grade 12 learner from Woodlands, Mitchells Plain, said he is both anxious and determined as exams began this week.
“I look forward to the exams, but I live in fear with the constant sound of gunshots in the background,” the learner said. “We don’t even study in groups anymore because it’s not safe to walk around in areas where people or gangs don’t know you.
“I read about the matriculant who was shot and killed. He was innocent. Now imagine the fear. He was in his own area. For me, it’s about studying, writing, passing, and hoping to get into a university so I can escape this area.”
Despite these challenges, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said the start of the 2025 matric exams has gone smoothly.
“The 2025 matric exams got off to a good start in the Western Cape with no incidents reported thus far,” the department said in a statement. “We thank all of our officials and schools for the work they have done to prepare for the exams and to ensure that the session runs smoothly.”
The department confirmed that it is closely monitoring the exams and has contingency plans in place for potential disruptions including community safety concerns, load shedding or other emergencies.
“Thankfully, the taxi route suspension period did not have an impact on school attendance in the run-up to the exams,” the WCED added.
“We again appeal to the public to prevent any disruption of the exams. Our candidates have worked so hard to get to this point, and we owe it to them to give them the best possible chance to succeed.”
Vanessa Le Roux, founder of Parents for Equal Education also said she received no complaints.
“Other than the usual gun violence, we didn’t receive any complaints. So if there is something I can suggest is that Law Enforcement increases visibility in high crime areas, especially because matriculants are studying and they don’t need the worry of hearing gun shots or even being distracted if there was a shooting nearby.”
