The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is issuing an urgent reminder to parents and guardians to complete their online admissions applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 in public schools before the imminent deadline.

The official application period will close tonight, August 29, 2025, at midnight, leaving a narrow window for families to secure their children’s educational futures.

Since the launch of the GDE Online Admissions Application system, a remarkable 800,530 applications have been recorded as of Thursday. This figure includes:

• Grade 1: 345,493 applications
• Grade 8: 455,037 applications

However, the GDE has expressed concern over the significant number of incomplete applications, which currently stands at 52,929. These include cases where parents have registered their details but have not finalised school selections, as well as those who failed to submit essential documents such as Proof of Home Address.

According to GDE, without this document, applications will remain incomplete, jeopardising children’s chances of receiving placement offers.

Parents are reminded that all necessary documentation must be submitted to schools or uploaded online by 12:00 PM on 9 September 2025. The importance of the Proof of Home Address cannot be overstated, as placements are determined primarily based on designated feeder zones.

In an emphatic call to action, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane urged parents who have not yet completed the full admissions process to act immediately. “Failure to act before the deadline will result in disappointment and loss of placement priority,” Chiloane cautioned, highlighting the importance of adhering to the specified guidelines.

It is crucial to note that placements will not be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, the GDE will apply a prioritisation process based on several criteria, including:

• Home address within the school’s feeder zone, nearest to the school
• Sibling or previous school connections
• Work address within the school’s feeder zone
• Home address within a 30km radius
• Home address beyond a 30km radius

Applications that remain incomplete or contain fraudulent documentation will not be considered for placement offers. The placement period is scheduled to commence on 16 October 2025 and will continue until all learners have been placed in schools.

IOL

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