Gauteng education pushes back as school placement tensions spill into the open

Gauteng education pushes back as school placement tensions spill into the open

Few things stir emotions in Gauteng like school placement season and this year, the pressure has tipped into open confrontation.

As anxious parents continue waiting for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements, the Gauteng Department of Education has firmly rejected claims that foreign nationals are being prioritised over South African pupils in public schools. The pushback follows renewed activism by Operation Dudula, which has been mobilising parents and targeting schools over learner admissions.

Claims, protests and rising frustration

Over recent months, Operation Dudula has intensified its messaging around school admissions, accusing authorities of sidelining South African children. In September last year, the group allegedly delivered notices to schools in parts of Soweto, warning against admitting undocumented pupils for the 2026 academic year.

On social media, the debate has been heated. Some parents argue the system feels stacked against locals, while others warn that scapegoating foreign families distracts from deeper issues overcrowded classrooms, rapid urban migration and years of underinvestment in school infrastructure.

“There is no such directive”

Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane has moved to clear the air.

He said there is no policy written or implied that instructs schools or officials to prioritise foreign nationals. On the contrary, South African learners are prioritised in line with legislation and the department’s official admissions processes.

“No school is permitted to place foreign national pupils ahead of South African pupils,” Chiloane said, adding that any school or official found violating admissions rules will face disciplinary action.

How placements actually work

Part of the confusion, the MEC explained, lies in how different grades are handled.

Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements are processed through the GDE Online Admissions system, which parents across Gauteng rely on each year. Inner grades from Grades 2 to 7 and Grades 9 to 11 are managed directly at school level and not through the online system.

Some schools, particularly in densely populated areas, are struggling to absorb inner-grade applicants. Chiloane urged schools to work closely with district offices to manage placements more efficiently and avoid bottlenecks that fuel suspicion and misinformation.

The real problem: space, not nationality

According to the department, the number of unplaced learners is far smaller than public perception suggests.

At present, 2 763 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners remain unplaced across the province including 735 Grade 1 pupils and 2 028 Grade 8 pupils.

GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said the main obstacle isn’t nationality, but capacity. High-pressure areas in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni continue to feel the strain as families move closer to economic hubs, putting enormous pressure on nearby schools.

“This means not every learner can be placed at their preferred school immediately,” Mabona said. “But we are working to ensure every qualifying learner is accommodated.”

Late applications still open

For parents who missed the main application window, the department has reopened the online system for late applications. The portal has been open since 17 December 2025 and will close on 30 January 2026.

Late applicants can apply to one school only, and the system shows schools with available space. Once selected, the learner will be placed for the 2026 academic year.

Beyond the blame game

Education experts note that Gauteng’s school placement tensions reflect broader realities: urbanisation, migration both local and cross-border and a public school system under constant pressure.

While emotions run high, the department’s message is clear: South African learners are not being sidelined, and blaming foreign families won’t create new classrooms.

As the new school year approaches, parents are being urged to rely on official channels, ignore misinformation, and give the placement process space to work, even as the debate over access, fairness and capacity continues to play out across Gauteng.

{Source: The Citizen}

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