Gauteng online admissions to open in July – GDE
The Gauteng Department of Education has announced that online applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 will open on 24 July.
The admission process for the 2026 academic year will run until 29 August.
Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the earlier start is intended to give parents more time to prepare and ensure their children are enrolled on time.
During a media briefing on Thursday, he also addressed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, clarifying that Grade R will not be compulsory until all public schools are ready.
“We are not starting with Grade R for now because we have not really, fully implemented BELA, not all schools have Grade R. Some schools work with Early Childhood Development close by. Up until when we know our primary schools have Grade Rs and we have really universalised it, then we’re going to start at that particular level,” Chiloane said.
The department’s online admissions system has faced challenges in previous years, including technical issues, placement delays, limited school options, and difficulties for parents with poor internet access or limited digital literacy, particularly in underserved areas.
Chiloane stressed that parents of Grade R pupils must still apply for Grade 1, even if the child is continuing at the same school, and warned that no late applications will be accepted.
“We deal with those who have applied on time, and those are the ones who get first preference. Late applications, when we deal with them later on in the year, we would have forfeited a single right of identifying a certain school that you would have wanted for your child. Even if that school is in your home feeders, you will still not get in if it’s full, if you have not applied in time,” he said.
Parents are advised to apply to a minimum of three and a maximum of five schools to improve their chances of placement.
The Department also cautioned against applying to only one school, as this does not improve the child’s chances of acceptance.
Chiloane further warned parents not to fall for scams that demand payment for assistance with the application process.
“There’s no one who will guarantee you a space if you give them money. Those people you must bring them to me because we don’t charge, it’s free, it’s a right,” he said.
The department reminded parents that applications without valid proof of home address will be considered incomplete. Proper documentation is essential for successful placement.
“All these documents are a requirement. If you don’t give us these documents, the application is incomplete. So it’s a must that you comply with all these requirements,” Chiloane added.
Parents who own property must submit a recent municipal payment statement.
Those who are renting must provide:
- A lease agreement not older than three months
- Rental payment slips showing the full address
- A copy of the landlord’s ID
Chiloane also noted that the department supports schools that verify home addresses in person to ensure that the information provided is accurate.
Additionally, the department clarified that applications for Grades 2 to 7 and Grades 9 to 12 must be submitted directly at the school and not through the online system.
