The Gauteng Department of Education has called on parents to stay patient as it works to finalize 2026 school placements for their children. With term four approaching its end, concerns are rising among families whose applications remain unplaced. Officials assure that applications marked as 'being processed' are actively under review.
As the end of term four draws near, the Gauteng Department of Education is addressing growing parental anxiety over unplaced children for the 2026 academic year. The department emphasizes that it is operating continuously to resolve these placements, urging families to remain patient during this critical period.
Spokesperson Steve Mabona highlighted the ongoing efforts, stating, “We should be announcing on when are we going to open for the late registration. MEC will lead us on that process, but we continue to place learners, so we should be in a position to update on how far we have gone but parents need to be patient, we are continuing with the placement process.”
For parents whose applications show a status of ‘being processed,’ this indicates that the department is actively handling their requests. The initiative comes amid broader challenges in school admissions, with the department committed to providing updates soon on late registrations led by the MEC.
This situation reflects the pressures on South Africa's education system, particularly in densely populated provinces like Gauteng, where demand for school spots often exceeds availability. While no specific completion timeline was given, the department's round-the-clock work aims to minimize disruptions for the upcoming year.