A Cape Town mother has appealed to Premier Alan Winde and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and watchdogs after her son was rejected by six schools for placement for Grade 8 three years ago and is still battling to have him transferred to a closer location despite over 500 emails and visits made.

The mother is one of many battling to find placement for their children at public schools across the province.

The WCED said in their bid to remedy the issue of space and placement, they are in the process of building 29 schools as admissions for Grade R, Grade 1 and 8 ended in June.

By May the department confirmed they received late applications for 8 603 learners for the respective grades, bringing the total number of learners applied for to 173 872.

The online window for transfer applications for Grades 2 to 7 and 9 to 12 was opened on August 4  and closed on August 18.

The department stated that transfer applications for learners who have reached their highest grade in their school, or whose parents have relocated, would be prioritised. 

Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the WCED said the process for placement was still not complete and could not provide the latest numbers.

“The department has only just started their phase of the placement process. This includes verifying available places at schools based on their admission lists,” she told Cape Argus.  

“The data on placement in progress will only be verified and available later this year.

“For Grades R, 1 and 8: the districts are currently in the process of identifying and finding places for learners who have not yet found a space.  

“For all other grades (transfer applications): the window for on-time transfer applications closed on 18 August 2025, and parents were informed this week of the outcome.  

 “District admissions officials will assist parents who have not yet found a place with a suitable alternative option, and we encourage these parents to contact their district office should they need assistance. Our officials will leave no stone unturned in seeking a suitable place for every child.

“The Western Cape Education Department is planning to build 29 new and replacement schools over the next three financial years.”

A parent of a 16-year-old boy from Elsies River who attends a high school in Mitchells Plain,  said he was rejected by six schools for Grade 8 and is now battling to have him transferred while he’s in Grade 10.

She also took to social media on the page of Parents for Equal Education and tagged Premier Alan Winde in her post, citing that her child was yet again rejected during a transfer request in August.

Winde’s office in response to Cape Argus said it was a WCED issue.

“In 2022, I have applied to 6 schools, Gardens Commercial being my first choice as my office is within 5 metres of the schools gate,” the mother explained.

“He got rejected at Gardens Commercial due to the school being oversubscribed. 

“Needless to say 2023 rolls around and school starts and my son is still not placed.

“What was supposed to be a memorable occasion for the family, turned into a nightmare. 

“He only started Grade 8 in February that year, being placed at Trafalgar High.

 “Since then we have been trying to get him enrolled at Elsies River High , the closest school to our house, not even 2 kilometres from where we stay, a 3 minute drive.

“He has been rejected because of the school being over-subscribed, with 500 emails, 500 visits to the school and the offices of the WCED, prayers and tears and I am nothing closer to having him enrolled at the nearest school.

 “The transfer period opened somewhere in August this year and results were out on 17 September. Same outcome, application was unsuccessful.”

Vanessa le Roux  the founder of Parents for Equal Education said has threatened legal action against authorities: “The following departments, and their Parliamentary committees should give us answers, one way or another. After the 14 day period we will open criminal cases against every department who fails our children: The Presidency, WCED, the Department for Women and Children,  the Police and Justice Cluster, The SA Human Rights Commission and the Department of Social Development.” 

“On July 8, I was given the platform by the National Portfolio Committee on Basic Education to do a presentation, I specifically spoke on the matter of admission, and placements.”

Riedwaan Ahmed, provincial chief executive, National Professional Teacher’s Organisation of South Africa( NAPTOSA), said they were aware of the issue.

“We are informed of the backlog, which according to WCED is not high, given their current placement processes. A challenge they have identified is the immigration of learners. The issue of undocumented learners is also being addressed by the parliamentary Portfolio committee on Education.”

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