Gauteng to complete 2026 school placements (grade 1 to 8) by 12 December

The Gauteng Education Department says it remains on track to place all grade one and eight pupils by 12 December, despite nearly 40,000 still awaiting school allocations. 

MEC Matome Chiloane says the system is processing placements daily, with several thousand finalised in the last 24 hours.

"I can assure parents who are a bit worried that by the 12th of December, they should have received placement offers for their kids."

Chiloane says the remaining unplaced pupils are mainly those whose preferred schools have reached capacity, forcing the Department to transfer them to nearby schools with available space. 

He also confirmed that late applications will open on 17 December for parents who missed the deadline or delayed applying.

Chiloane attributed persistent placement pressures to rapid migration into Gauteng and poor municipal planning.

"The planning of the municipalities has left social infrastructure behind. They are building high-rise residential areas, and they're not making consideration of schools that are necessary."

To listen to Chiloane in conversation with 702's Ray White, click below: