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Matriculants found to have cheated could be banned from writing matric for the next three years.
That's according to the Department of Basic Education, which has begun hearings into claims of mass cheating in schools and exam centres in Kwazulu Natal last year.
In addition, officials found to be complicit could face criminal charges.
Hearings into the alleged cheating at 20 exam centres in KwaZulu-Natal began on Monday.
Hearings into claims of cheating at 16 exam centres in the Eastern Cape start on Wednesday.
Bhisho Education Department spokesperson, Loyiso Pulumani, says an audit to determine the veracity of the claims has been completed.
He says teams of officials from the provincial and national departments of education as well as quality assessor, Umalusi, will be holding hearings in all seven districts where mass cheating is alleged to have taken place.
Pulumani says the final report will be released by the end of January.
