Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi announced on January 28 that all grade one and grade eight learners who applied for the 2022 online admissions have been successfully placed.

He said their statistics indicate that they received a total of 347 216 applications for grade one and eight.

From this figure, 321 768 applicants had submitted their proof of residence and other required documentation to enable the department to facilitate their placements.

As a result, a total of 129 779 grade one learners and 191 989 grade eight learners were successfully placed.

“Since the opening of the late applications on January 12, we have placed a total of 25 448 learners. It must be noted that these learners were placed at schools with available space, and they, therefore, received an immediate placement at respective schools.

“Parents and guardians that continue visiting our district offices to apply for inner grades (grade two to seven and grade nine to 11) were previously not accommodated due to many schools having undergone the regulatory 10-day headcount.

“However, our districts are currently interacting with the relevant schools to try and accommodate all those who are applying for inner grades.

“Parents are requested to avoid visiting our head office for assistance with applications for inner grades. They are encouraged to rather visit our district offices instead, who will be able to assist with such applications,” explained Lesufi.

About 1432 appeals were submitted during the initial applications period. Of these, 71 appeals were upheld on merit, resulting in applicants being placed at the schools they applied to based on admissions regulations.

A total of 1337 of the appeals received was dismissed and these applicants were placed at schools with available space. And 24 appeals are still being processed and the same will be finalised in due course.

Lesufi has asked the management team of the department to immediately start a review on the online registration process and the concerns raised by parents on the system. This review report should be tabled before the new round of registrations.

“We are relieved that all grade one and eight learners in Gauteng have now been placed under our online admissions system,” he said.