The government's excuse not to release matric results to newspapers before sending them to schools was that newspapers get it wrong, sometimes omitting the names of learners who had passed.

The government's excuse not to release matric results to newspapers before sending them to schools was that newspapers get it wrong, sometimes omitting the names of learners who had passed.

This often leading to tragic ends such as learners committing suicide because they wrongly think they have failed.

Sowetan has had to break with tradition and not publish the results because we think it would be a pointless and an expensive exercise publishing results when those it affects most already have them. We hope for understanding from readers.

But the shambles regarding the release of matric results this year shows the government's excuse to have been unfounded. Newspapers have been used to disguise the government's own ineptitude.

Hundreds of learners across the country have had to live with more days of uncertainty because results did not arrive at their schools. The online and telecommunication options failed to deliver on the promises made.

This is unacceptable. Having spent many hours studying, and then more hours in anguish waiting for their big day, the department of education owes our youngsters better.

Many reasons and excuses have been offered but they are cold comfort to young people who had hoped that yesterday would mark a watershed on their journey of life.