Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane wishes to remind parents and guardians that Gauteng’s 2026 online admissions system opened for late applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 on Wednesday, 17 December 2025. Late applications are intended for parents and guardians who did not apply during the main application period and those who have Incomplete applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8.
During the late application window, only schools with available space will be available on the system. Parents and guardians will be able to select one school only, and once selected, the learner will be finally placed at that school.
Parents are reminded that placements made during the Late Application period cannot be declined, and no objections or appeals will be permitted once a school has been selected.
Latest learner placement update
As of Tuesday, 16 December 2025 at 1pm, the Department reports the following placement status:
Total unplaced learners: 10 295
- Grade 1: 2 848
- Grade 8: 7 447
The Department continues to work tirelessly to ensure that all learners are placed. Placement offers and transfer offers are released daily as part of ongoing efforts to accommodate remaining learners, particularly in high-pressure areas.
Ongoing placement, transfer and matching process
The placement process remains active across all districts. Learners continue to be matched to available spaces in line with the regulated admissions criteria. Transfer offers are issued only after confirmation that all schools selected by a parent have reached full capacity.
Applicants whose status reflects “Application is being processed” or “School reached capacity” should expect to receive a transfer offer once their status changes to “Transfer offer made”. All transfer offers are made to the next closest school with available space, with due consideration given to the distance from the learner’s home address.
Progress on objections and appeals
The Department confirms that a total of 5 199 appeals were received, and these currently at an advanced stage of processing, as part of the finalisation of placements. Parents or guardians who receive a transfer placement offer at a school they did not apply to have seven (7) days to either accept or decline the offer:
- If the transfer offer is accepted, the learner is placed at the school and the placement is final.
- If the transfer offer is declined, the parent may submit an objection within seven (7) days.
All objections are investigated and adjudicated in line with regulated admissions criteria, with outcomes communicated within 14 days. Parents who are dissatisfied with an objection outcome may submit an appeal within seven (7) days.
Appeals constitute a second and final adjudication process, and outcomes are provided within 14 days of receipt. Parents are reminded that appeal outcomes are final, and no alternative placement will be offered thereafter.
MEC Chiloane urges parents to make use of the late application period responsibly and calls for continued patience as the Department works towards placing every learner fairly, efficiently and within available capacity.
