Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, on October 12, briefed the media at Parktown High School for Girls about the 2026 online admissions learner placements.

Chiloane said the 2026 online placement period for grades 1 and 8 will begin on October 16 and continue throughout the year until all learners are placed.

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“The 2026 Online Admissions Application Period ran successfully from July 24 2025, to August 29 2025, with a total of 820 350. Grade 1 received 354 916 applications, while Grade 8 received 465 434 applications submitted by 358 574 unique applicants to be placed for the 2026 academic year.”

Unique applicants refer to individual or child-specific applicants.

The above translates to:

• 175 792 unique applicants with Complete Applications for Grade 1.
• 182 782 unique applicants with Complete Applications for Grade 8.
• 51 947 incomplete applications were submitted by parents who did not submit valid proof of home addresses.

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Chiloane noted that as part of the placement process, parents and guardians with complete applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 will start receiving placement offers through SMS notifications sent to the cellphone numbers provided when applications were registered.

“Within seven days of receiving a placement offer, the parents/guardians must log onto www.gdeadmissions.gov.za using their credentials to either accept a placement offer as a final OR accept while awaiting other offers. If parents/guardians have not received an SMS with a placement offer, there is no need to panic, as the offer status may be viewed on the parent profile created during the application period.”

The MEC noted that applicants who do not accept placement offers within seven school days will be auto-placed at the school that made an offer of placement.

“Placement is prioritised for applicants with verifiable home addresses within the school feeder zone and closest to the school, and where space is available. When schools reach full capacity, applicants will be offered placement offers from schools with available space.”

Parents are also encouraged to visit district offices or schools for assistance in accepting placement offers.

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