Close to 5 000 learners yet to be placed at Gauteng schools

A school classroom.

The Gauteng Education Department says 4 858 learners are yet to be placed in schools for the 2026 academic year.

The department says this represents 1.5% of the total of 358 574 applications received for the new school year.

Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona says most of the placement pressure is in Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg.

“The appeals and objections are being attended to. We have recorded over 6 000 such and we are left with just 637 that we still need to process. So, all those that have been waiting for appeals they would have received their responses, and they would know that they have been accommodated accordingly.”

4858 GRADE 1 AND GRADE 8 LEARNERS REMAIN TO BE PLACED IN GAUTENG

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane wishes to announce that only 4858 learners remain unplaced as part of the 2026 Online Admissions process for Grade 1 and Grade 8, reflecting sustained progress in learner… pic.twitter.com/UonofO5hCm

— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) January 6, 2026