Blessing Tsodzo, 27, Simba Nicolas Chira, 23, Arnold Andy Chirare, 30, Alton Mugadani Mashau, 27, and Simbarashe Faya, 27, would be back in court on November 5 for further investigations. They remained in custody, Captain Paul Ramaloko said.

The five, four of them Zimbabweans, were arrested on Tuesday after nine different exam papers were found in their possession. They were believed to be students and tutors at private colleges in Pretoria.

"We were following up on information about exam papers being sold [when we made the arrests]," Ramaloko said.

Unisa spokesman Martin Ramotshela said the integrity of the Unisa examinations remained intact.

He said an internal investigation into the matter was underway, and Unisa would "take appropriate steps".