The Gauteng Department of Education says it has received more than 670 000 online applications for Grade 1 placements ahead of the midnight deadline on 4 September 2026, according to SABC News. The admissions portal, which opened on 5 August 2026 for Grade 1 and Grade 8, saw 210 055 submissions within its first four hours.
Confusion remains over whether the 670 000 figure covers Grade 1 alone or includes Grade 8 applications. Eyewitness News reported on 22 August 2026 that the province had received nearly 740 000 combined Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications, which may account for the apparent discrepancy.
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile confirmed the early surge during a media briefing on 5 August. “The system went live at 08:00 on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, and by 12:00 noon, the Gauteng Department of Education had already received 210 055 Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications,” Maile said.
Parents must complete a five-step online process and apply to a minimum of three and a maximum of five public schools, according to the department’s guidelines. Supporting documents must be uploaded or submitted within seven school days of application.
Maile stressed that early registration is essential for provincial planning. “We are calling on parents to register on time because if we don’t know by October, November how many kids are registered, we will never know whether we need more schools or not,” he said.
The admissions cycle has drawn sharp attention in Gauteng, where pressure on public schools remains acute and placement delays have frustrated parents in previous years. While the Western Cape runs a separate admissions process, the scale of Gauteng’s figures underscores the national demand for school places and the growing reliance on centralised online systems.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane warned that no new applications would be accepted after 29 August, according to EWN. “Should be noted that after the 29th of August, no new application will be accepted, no,” Chiloane said.
The exact scope of the 670 000 figure remains unconfirmed by a second independent source. Cape Flats will check with the Gauteng Department of Education on 26 August 2026 for clarification on whether the total covers Grade 1 only or both grades, and will update accordingly.