Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, addressed the public with a crucial update on the 2026 Online Admissions application period for Grade 1 and Grade 8. With the deadline looming on 29 August, Chiloane reflected on the department’s progress and challenges, chief among them, the growing concern on oversubscribed schools.

As thousands of parent’s rush to secure placements, the MEC emphasized the importance of timely and accurate submissions.

MEC Chiloane has issued a stern warning to parents. He urged them not to submit fraudulent documents when applying for their children through the online admissions platform.

He stressed that all supporting documents must be certified, especially proof of residence, as schools have the authority to verify whether applicants live within the designated feeder zone.

[WATCH] Gauteng MEC for Education and Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, says parents have until 9 September at midday to submit all required documents for Grade 1 and Grade 8 online admissions. pic.twitter.com/Bn1Z3cIYxN

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 22, 2025

“I do understand that sometimes parents might have a temptation and go to certain areas and seek addresses whether from a family friend or a friend, or whoever, cousin … it doesnt matter. However, I would urge parents to really desist from that, because what we have done is that we gave schools the right to go and check and verify if the child stays in that particular feeder zone,” he says.

Chiloane further revealed that 277 primary schools and 221 secondary schools across Gauteng have received more applications than they can accommodate. To help ease this pressure, the department opened 19 new schools between 2024 and 2025. This brings the total number of public schools in the province to 1,408 primary and 674 secondary schools.

“Currently, we do have pressure areas, and one thing the system does, it allows us to know where we need additional classroom space, because it tells us where the pressure areas are and where do we get the number of applications that exceed the number of spaces available in the schools,” explains Chiloane.

Gauteng Education Spokesperson, Steve Mabona, has appealed to families to double-check their 2026 online school applications, ensuring that all steps have been properly completed. He has emphasized that incomplete or unresolved submissions could jeopardize placement outcomes.

Mabona says, “Once you have completed the application, the system will then send you a notification that you are done with the process. So, you need to go back and finalise the process. We have realised that there are those who would have entered the system and create credentials, register the learner and left it at that.”

The department has confirmed that October 16th is the official deadline for final placement offers for Grade 1 and Grade 8 admissions.

Parents are urged to respond promptly to placement notifications to secure their child’s spot for the 2026 academic year.

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