Johannesburg: Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, has announced that only 4,858 learners remain unplaced as part of the 2026 Online Admissions process for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners. As of Tuesday, the Gauteng Department of Education's Online Admissions system recorded a total of 4,858 unplaced learners, comprising 1,381 Grade 1 learners and 3,477 Grade 8 learners.
According to South African Government News Agency, this figure represents approximately 1.5% of the total 358,574 complete applications received for the 2026 academic year, which includes 175,792 Grade 1 and 182,782 Grade 8 applicants. The department continues to release placement and transfer offers daily, supported by targeted interventions in high-pressure districts, to ensure that all remaining learners are placed as efficiently and fairly as possible, in line with regulated admissions criteria and available school capacity.
Placement data per district indicates that the majority of the remaining unplaced learners are concentrated in urban and metropolitan districts, where sustained population growth and infrastructure constraints continue to place pressure on available school capacity. Ekurhuleni remains the highest-pressure district, with a combined total of 1,741 unplaced learners in the Ekurhuleni North District and 1,181 in the Ekurhuleni South District.
In the Johannesburg Districts, Johannesburg North and Johannesburg East account for a significant number of remaining unplaced learners. Johannesburg North has three Grade 8 learners unplaced, while Johannesburg East has 1,173, and Johannesburg South has 352 unplaced learners. Placement pressure remains highest in Johannesburg East, largely driven by demand for secondary school placements.
In Tshwane, significant progress in placing learners has been made, with only a minuscule amount of learners to place. Meanwhile, Sedibeng and West Rand Districts have also shown tremendous placement progress with comparatively lower numbers and are largely stabilized. The Sedibeng East District has only 70 Grade 8 learners still needing placement.
The provincial department has prioritized Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg as high-pressure districts, with intensified district-based placement, continued release of placement and transfer offers, and strategic utilization of available capacity across neighboring schools. The late applications period, which commenced on 17 December 2025 and will close on 30 January 2026, has recorded a total of 11,183 late applications, comprising 5,701 Grade 1 learners and 5,482 Grade 8 learners.
MEC Chiloane reminded parents and guardians that the 2026 Online Admissions system remains open for Late Applications, particularly for those who did not apply during the main application period or whose applications were incomplete. Parents and guardians are urged to apply online by registering or logging on to www.gdeadmissions.gov.za. During the Late Application period, only schools with available space will appear on the system.
The provincial department confirmed that a total of 6,736 placement appeals have been lodged as part of the 2026 Online Admissions process, with only 637 objections awaiting adjudication. The appeals adjudication process is at an advanced stage, with outcomes communicated directly to parents and guardians as finalization progresses.
'We are encouraged by the steady progress made in placing learners across Gauteng. We once again urge parents and guardians to remain patient and cooperative as the Department continues to work tirelessly to ensure that every Grade 1 and Grade 8 learner is placed for the 2026 academic year,' said Chiloane.