Is there a way I can change my personal information on my matric certificate?

The long answer

It is certainly possible to have a matric certificate re-issued with changed information on it, but only under certain conditions:

1. A change to a certificate must be requested within 12 months after the date it was issued. 

2. The Education Department says the following changes will not be considered: 

• where an identity document was issued after the examination, and the personal information does not match that on the certificate; (editor's emphasis)

• where a change of personal details is due to marriage or civil union;

• where a change of personal details happens through a legal process.

So, as you wrote your matric in 2021, you have missed the twelve-month deadline for re-issuing the matric certificate. 

Secondly, as your ID was issued this year after you had written your matric in 2021, they will not consider changing it. 

But it should not be necessary to change the personal information on your certificate to be able to use the certificate. Umalusi, which is the organisation that issues matric certificates, says the following:

“Having different information on your ID and on the certificate does not make the certificate invalid, as the certificate is issued against information registered at the point of writing the examination. Therefore Umalusi also offers a verification service against which a certificate can be verified with regard to its authenticity. Employers and learning institutions should not prevent a candidate from working or registering for study on the basis of the differences between an ID document and certificate, but should rather verify the authenticity of a certificate with Umalusi.” 

It goes on to say that the public cannot apply directly to Umalusi for the verification of certificates, but should do so through one of the verification clients registered with Umalusi. 

The Umalusi website gives a long list of verification clients in different areas. (These clients will charge varying fees to do the verification and Umalusi advises that one should check what some clients charge before deciding on a particular client.)

Wishing you the best,
Athalie