Online admissions strain continues as thousands of Gauteng learners remain unplaced for 2026
More than 40 000 Gauteng learners, including many in Boksburg, are still awaiting placement for 2026, the Education MEC confirmed during a recent briefing.
Despite steady progress in the 2026 online school admissions process, thousands of Gauteng learners are still without school placements as the year draws to a close, placing renewed pressure on the Department of Education and leaving many parents frustrated.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirmed that 317 988 of the 358 574 unique Grade One and Grade Eight applicants had been placed by December 3, representing 88.7% of all learners who applied through the provincial online admissions system. A unique applicant refers to an individual learner applying for Grade One or Grade Eight entry in 2026.
According to the department, 160 262 Grade One learners (91.2%) have been placed so far, along with 157 726 Grade Eight learners (86.3%). The remaining 40 586 learners (11.3%) are still awaiting placement offers through school transfers where space is available.
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Department: “We prioritise completed applications”
The GDE says placement for the 358 574 applicants with complete applications remains the priority. Transfer and placement offers are being released daily to accommodate the outstanding 40 586 learners – made up of 15 530 Grade Ones and 25 056 Grade Eights.
Although 87 639 spaces remain available across the province, the department acknowledged that these open spaces are not located in high-pressure areas, leaving some communities with severe shortages and mounting frustration.
Placement not ‘first come, first served’
Parents are reminded that placements are decided using the following criteria, in this order:
• Home address within the school’s feeder zone.
• Sibling already at the school / previous school.
• Parent’s work address within the feeder zone.
• Home address within 30 km.
• Home address beyond 30 km.
• Parents slow to accept offers.
The department revealed that 11 800 parents have still not accepted their placement offers as final – 11 666 have not responded at all, and 134 have only provisionally accepted their offers. Officials warn this slows the entire process, forcing the system to automatically place unacknowledged offers after seven days. Parents are urged to log in to https://www.gdeadmissions.gov.za and either accept placement as final, or accept while awaiting additional offers (within seven school days).
Late applications open December 17
GDE MEC Matome Chiloane announced that late applications for Grade One and Eight will open on December 17. Only schools with available space will appear on the system. Late applicants will be allowed to choose one school only and must accept that placement as final. No appeals or objections will be permitted.
Local schools
Lakeside Primary principal Craig Jansen said the school is the sixth highest-demand school in the province, with 1 149 applications for just 160 seats.
“This means thousands of parents were left disappointed. Many learners are not placed at their school of choice. Another issue is proof of residence. Some families live in backyard rooms and affidavits are often rejected. It’s also extremely difficult for parents who don’t have internet access.”
Voortrekker High School principal Alfri Black said the school expects about 270 Grade Eight learners. “We’re just waiting for paperwork from parents to be finalised. It has been slow, but things seem to be running smoothly,” he said.
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Laerskool Goudrand principal Gert Botes confirmed that 120 Grade One learners have been placed so far, although the school can take 210. “We’re expecting more to be placed. The online system is a mess. Many parents don’t have internet access, and there is a lot of unhappiness about where children have been placed.”
Boksburg parents speak out
A Boksburg North mother, who asked to remain anonymous, described her experience enrolling her child for Grade Eight as “terrible.”
“I wanted my child in Voortrekker, but that option didn’t come up. I then applied to Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen and Sunward Park High. Eventually, I received an SMS saying my child was placed at Reiger Park Secondary School. It’s sad that your child’s future is now in the hands of the government,” she said.
However, not all parents had difficulties. Bonnie Broderick, whose son will start Grade One at Freeway Primary School, said the process was “quite easy.”
