Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane says Grade 1 and 8 parents can expect to start receiving offer letters from 16 October.

Chiloane was speaking during an update on the online admissions placements for Grades 1 and 8 learners for the 2026 academic year at Parktown High School for Girls in Johannesburg.

Online applications for both grades closed at the end of August.

Chiloane says failure to accept the offer within a period of seven days could affect a learner’s chances of securing a suitable school placement.

However, Chiloane has reassured parents not to panic if they do not receive a message by next Thursday.

” So, the happy SMSes will come on the 16th of October and we will be running with this up until we place all of them, 100%. So, from the 16th of October, parents will be getting messages, and those messages will come through the cellphone [number] that you have given to us, and that’s why I always emphasised on the importance of the cellphone number. Make sure that you put the correct number at all times. If you are struggling with the system, you can phone our hotline, our free number, there’s also WhatsApp, but don’t panic, don’t panic at all. No child will be left unplaced. They will go to school in the 2026 academy year.”

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