d6 has added a new Reporting Language option to the SA-SAMS exporter. This update gives schools greater flexibility when exporting learner data to SA-SAMS — ensuring that official DBE submissions always meet Department requirements, while also supporting schools' internal reporting needs in their preferred language.
This article explains what the new option does, when to use each setting, and important compliance rules schools must follow.
My School > Compliance > Export to SA-SAMS Database
Previously, d6 always exported learner data with English as the reporting language. Schools now have the option to use a different language for their own internal SA-SAMS reporting and administration — without affecting their official DBE submissions.
The SA-SAMS exporter screen now includes a Reporting Language dropdown. Schools can select one of three options before exporting data to SA-SAMS:
| Option | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| English (Default) | Sets all learner reporting language in SA-SAMS to 'E' (English). | Required for all official DBE submissions, SA-SAMS report cards submitted to the Department, and NSC exam registrations. |
| Afrikaans | Sets all learner reporting language in SA-SAMS to 'A' (Afrikaans). | Internal use only. Do not use for DBE submissions. |
| Preferred Language | Sets each learner's reporting language to 'A' or 'E' based on their individual language setting in their d6 learner profile. | Internal use only. Useful for schools with mixed-language learner populations. Do not use for DBE submissions. |
Important — submission rule: Always select English when doing official DBE submissions to SA-SAMS, submitting SA-SAMS report cards to the Department, or registering learners for NSC exams. The Afrikaans and Preferred Language options are for internal school use only and must not be used for any official submissions.
Log in to d6 and navigate to My School > Compliance > Export to SA-SAMS Database.
Find the new Reporting Language dropdown field on the exporter screen.
Choose English, Afrikaans, or Preferred Language based on your purpose (see the table above).
For all official DBE submissions, ensure English is selected. This is the default setting.
Continue with your export as normal.
d6 is fully compliant with DBE submission requirements. Key compliance areas supported include:
Official SA-SAMS learner data exports
SA-SAMS report card submissions to the Department
NSC exam registration forms (applicable to high schools)
Automated reporting language compliance (English default for all submissions)
Yes. The default is set to English, which is the correct setting for all official DBE submissions. You may change it to Afrikaans or Preferred Language for internal school use only.
The Department of Basic Education requires that the reporting language field is set to English ('E') for all official submissions. Submitting with Afrikaans selected may result in your data being flagged as non-compliant. Always verify the language setting before submitting.
Yes. The Preferred Language option reads each learner's home language or communication language setting from their d6 profile and sets the SA-SAMS reporting language accordingly.
Yes. This update is available to all schools using the d6 SA-SAMS exporter. No additional setup is required.
Last updated: March 2026 | Version 1.0