Eesa Omar says having to rewrite two leaked matric examination papers has ruined his wedding and honeymoon plans.
The 18-year-old pupil from Mpumalanga said on Wednesday that the decision by the basic education department had caused irreparable damage for him and his family.
He planned to get married on Saturday and be on honeymoon by Tuesday, the day basic education minister Angie Motshekga has announced maths paper 2 will be rewritten. Physical science paper 2 is scheduled to be re-examined on December 17.
AfriForum and independent pupils, including Omar, are challenging the rewrites in the Pretoria high court on Thursday.
Omar told Sunday Times Daily he was in a last-minute scramble to change his arrangements.
“It has caused this irreparable damage, in a material sense, to my parents. I don’t know what to say to my parents with regards to all the things they might lose. That adds more stress to me,” he said.
“I have been planning my wedding for the last four months and all arrangements have been made. We have paid deposits for our caterers. All our honeymoon reservations have to be altered now due to the fact that I have to rewrite mathematics and chemistry next week. I have got family members that are coming from all parts of the country who now have to change their bookings and, due to the financial crisis that we have this year, I am unsure whether the establishments will be willing to refund us at all. This is seriously troubling me,” he said.
“With regards to [exam] preparations I am trying as hard as I can. Our text books were already handed in when we wrote the papers. It’s very tough preparing for the exams for next week,” he said.
The soon-to-be-husband said it was unfair all pupils had to rewrite the papers because they were leaked just a few hours before the exams.
“I don’t see how it could benefit [those who had access to the papers] just a few hours prior to the actual time. Now, due to the actions of a small group of people, why do we all have to suffer?”
Omar said his bride-to-be, who was not affected by the rewrites, was also stressed by the upset, adding that some changes to their plans would depend on the outcome of the court challenge.
“With my honeymoon dates, I have already contacted all the accommodation providers. I did make them aware of this situation ... I am going to lose most of my deposits on the accommodation. If I am to write on Tuesday, I don’t think it’s practical for me to get married at all this weekend because I have to study. A wedding is a festive time and you are supposed to spend it with family. It’s a time of celebration for all of us,” he said.
Argument in the matter to interdict the department of basic education DBE, as well as a separate challenge by the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), will be heard on Thursday.
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