NINE people appeared in the Empangeni magistrate's court yesterday after they were arrested on Friday for impersonating adult candidates in exams.

It is alleged that the suspects wrote exams on behalf of candidates registered at adult education centres.

The KwaZulu-Natal department of education yesterday said the matter was still under investigation.

They still had to establish how much the suspects were paid.

MEC Senzo Mchunu said the suspects apparently wrote exams for some candidates without the candidates setting foot in the exam centre.

Others showed up for the exams but only scribbled on the answer sheet, while a perfectly and already answered exam paper would be inserted into the batch that was sent for marking.

How the answer sheets got to the markers will form part of the investigation, Mchunu said.

"We expect more arrests as investigations continue," said Mchunu, who added that none of those arrested were officials of the department.