Why I paid 1K to get my matric results early

We all remember the stress of waiting to hear our matric results. But how far would you go – or how much would you pay – to get the news before everyone else does? AAISHA DADI PATEL spoke to a 2013 matriculant who recalls why she paid to find out early.

About a week before results were meant to come out, my friends and I went to the office of the regional newspaper where I live. Basically we just hung around there, trying to figure out how we could go about this.

Eventually we made contact after we approached one of the guys who walked out. He told us he would be able to help us out by organising an early copy of the newspaper, but that we would each have to pay R1,000.

I’m fortunate enough to have parents who understood what I was doing and why I was doing it, so it wasn’t an issue to access the money and for me to say “okay” to the deal. Sure enough, the evening before results were due to be released, I got my copy of the paper and saw my name and my results.

I wouldn’t say I have any regrets about paying a bribe to get the paper early, because the stress of waiting for results can really eat you up. The way I see it, the earlier you get your results, the better and easier it is for you. There is so much pressure when you know so many people will be looking for your name and you want to be able to know how you did before other people do.

I’m really not a fan of the fact that our names get published, but I suppose this is a normal thing that everyone goes through. I would have preferred newspapers to publish results next to ID numbers instead, but honestly, when I saw that I had done well (I got five distinctions), I didn’t mind anymore.

But you have to remember, people commit suicide over this every year. It’s a big deal. And I understand that the system of publishing results is there to keep everything equal and standardised, but I have to say that sometimes I really wonder about that.

– As told to Aaisha Dadi Patel
– Image via Wikimedia Commons

Editor’s note: This article initially referred to a 2014 matriculant who had paid to find out her results early. It has been corrected to reflect that the story is in fact about a 2013 matriculant. The Daily Vox regrets the error.