Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, announced the complete placement of the remaining Grade One and Grade Eight learners whose parents and guardians applied online through the 2026 online admissions system.

Approximately 484 Grade One and Grade Eight learners remained unplaced in Ekurhuleni, specifically in Thembisa and Kempton Park.

By Tuesday evening on March 3, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) had successfully placed all remaining learners at alternative schools in the respective areas.

In total, the number of Grade One and Grade Eight learners placed for the 2026 academic year through Gauteng’s Online Admissions system is 392 224.

The main application period, which ran from July 24 to August 5, 2025, accounted for the majority of these applications.

Meanwhile, 8.5% (33 650) of these applications were made during the late application period from December 17, 2025, to January 30.

The department expressed its sincere appreciation for the patience and resilience shown by parents and guardians, particularly during the tireless efforts to secure placements for all remaining learners.

Schools will initiate appropriate catch-up plans to assist learners in recovering any curriculum time lost.

“The online admissions system remains an important transformation tool to ensure all our schools are accessible to all our children. We are pleased to have demonstrated this by placing all applicants who applied online.

“However, we are determined to improve the system to ease some of the frustrations that are encountered during this process. In addition to system improvements, the Gauteng government will be constructing 18 additional new schools to increase capacity in the high-pressure areas that we have identified,” said Chiloane.