Image Source: Inside Education
Local – Despite Gauteng having 405,627 available spaces for learners, Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said there is a mismatch between where those spaces exist and where families are applying, leaving some schools overwhelmed while others nearby have room to spare.
The Gauteng Department of Education received 805,688 applications for grade 1 and grade 8 places for the 2027 academic year, submitted by 357,468 parents and guardians before the online admissions system closed on 4 September.
Maile said this translates into 169,396 unique grade 1 learners and 177,481 unique grade 8 learners, a combined 346,877 individual children seeking placement.
“We cannot sustain a situation where one public school is overwhelmed by thousands of applications while another public school, sometimes only a few kilometres away, has available classrooms or declining enrolment,” Maile said.
Spaces Exist, But Not Where They’re Needed
Some schools received thousands of applications for a fraction of the available places. Hoërskool Langenhoven in Tshwane West received 3,462 grade 8 applications, followed by Alberton High School with 2,756 and Katlehong Secondary School with 2,747. At grade 1 level, Laerskool Akasia in Pretoria received 1,355 applications, ahead of Palmridge Primary School with 1,330 and Alston Primary School with 1,207.
Maile said the province’s overall capacity looks sufficient only on paper, once demand at individual schools is taken into account.
“We have 405,627 available spaces. So in theory, we don’t have a problem. Why is it in theory? Because there’s a school that has got more than 3,000 applications for one grade,” Maile said.
Placement Priorities
Placement will follow a set order, giving preference to learners living within a school’s feeder zone, siblings already enrolled, and children whose previous school or parent’s workplace falls within that zone.
Parents with outstanding documents must submit certified copies by noon on 11 September, and placement offers are due to be sent by SMS to the number used at registration on 15 October.
Maile warned parents against paying anyone who claims they can secure a place, and said officials found to be involved would face discipline and criminal charges.
“Selling of space is corruption, and we are not going to tolerate it. We are going to act decisively, and we are cautioning parents not to be tempted,” Maile said.
The department has said it wants to build at least 200 new schools, at an estimated cost of R35 billion, and is looking at public-private partnerships and mobile classrooms to ease pressure while permanent infrastructure catches up with demand.
