Gauteng's Chiloane has officially opened online application system for Grades 1 and 8

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has officially opened the online application system for grades 1 and 8.

The department said there were more than 40,000 parents who are already in the queue to secure placement for their children.

Parents have until 29 August to submit their details and documents online.

Chiloane said past problems had been sorted out.

“We’ve also improved our system. It can now take up to 50,000 applicants per minute. So it will not crash. All parents will be able to apply.”

RESPONSES FROM 16 OCTOBER

Gauteng parents who successfully apply for grade 1 and 8 placement for the 2026 school year will begin receiving responses from 16 October.

Chiloane personally helped a parent submit an application in Ga-Rankuwa on Thursday morning.

Addressing parents queued outside the venue, Chiloane defended the platform, promising a smoother experience in 2025.

He urged parents to complete their applications before the 29 August deadline to ensure they receive their offers on time.

“The deadline on the 29th of August is midnight. That’s when the system shuts down. From the 16th of October, that’s when parents are going to start getting messages of placement offers, and what I’ve said earlier, we have a 98% success placement rate. So, automatically, parents are going to start getting placement offers from that date up until we place the last one.”