AFTER a long wait the 623,897 candidates who sat for the matric examinations in 2012 will finally receive their results.

The results will be available on the department's website tomorrow from 6am. Candidates can also get the results from their schools and in Sowetan.

Yesterday Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga had lunch with SA's top achievers and their parents in Johannesburg.

Tonight Motshekga is expected to unveil SA's top achievers for 2012 at a function to be held at the SABC studios in Auckland Park.

The department's director-general, Bobby Soobrayan, will also release the exams technical report, which looks at aspects of capturing and reporting on the NSC results.

Gauteng education spokesman Charles Phahlane said: "The department encourages learners to fetch their statement of results at their school so that they can see the full set of results and also get an explanation from the school if their results have not been published."

Candidates from independent schools received their results last week.