The qualification has been evaluated by Universities South Africa (USAf) and the following extract from a letter from Prof. Bawa, the Chief Executive Officer of USAf, dated 25 May 2021, which notes the outcome of that process:

THE IEB INTERNATIONAL SECONDARY CERTIFICATE

I have the pleasure of enclosing for your information the Consolidated Report on the Benchmarking of the International Secondary Certificate (IEB ISC) against the National Senior Certificate.

This report was considered and accepted by the USAf’s Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee, which incorporates the Matriculation Board, resolved after consideration of the report that a candidate who obtains the following qualifications will have met the minimum requirements for admission to degree study programmes in South African Public and Private Higher Education Institutions; 
(a) The IEB ISC with merit; or
(b) The IEB ISC (Advanced).

In addition, a candidate who obtains the IEB ISC will have met the minimum requirements for admission to a higher certificate, diploma or degree studies in South African Public and Private Higher Education Institutions.

The aforementioned decision is dependent on the following criteria: 
a. the IEB offers the IEB ISC in a foreign country (consistent with the laws of the country concerned); and
b. a candidate obtains the IEB ISC with merit or the IEB ISC (Advanced) and is offered a place at a South African University.

Candidates having achieved the qualifications above must apply to the Matriculation Board for a certificate of exemption.

A matriculation exemption is a legal requirement for first-degree study at a South African university. International students wishing to register for first-degree studies in South Africa must have their school qualifications evaluated by the Matriculation Board that will then issue a certificate of exemption to those who qualify.  The fact that the ISC has been evaluated by USAf and considered to meet the requirements for entry to tertiary institutions, both public and private, in South Africa is a significant indicator of its quality.

The qualification and specific subject curricula are currently being benchmarked by UK ENIC (previously known as UK NARIC), the institution that represents the UK in all matters relating to international qualifications.  The outcome of that evaluation will be available late September 2021.