4858 GRADE 1 AND GRADE 8 LEARNERS REMAIN TO BE PLACED IN GAUTENG

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4858 GRADE 1 AND GRADE 8 LEARNERS REMAIN TO BE PLACED IN GAUTENG

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR 

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Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane wishes to announce that *only 4858 learners remain unplaced as part of the 2026 Online Admissions process for Grade 1 and Grade 8, reflecting sustained progress in learner placement across Gauteng for the 2026 academic year.

 

As at *Tuesday, 6 January 2026*, the Gauteng Department of Education’s Online Admissions system recorded a total of 4858 unplaced learners, translating to:

Grade 1: 1381 learners

Grade 8: 3477 learners

 

This represents approximately 1.5% of the total 358 574 complete applications received for the 2026 academic year, comprising 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 PER DISTRICT: HIGH-PRESSURE AREAS

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 Districts

Ekurhuleni remains the highest-pressure district, with a combined total of:

Ekurhuleni North: 1741 unplaced learners (Grade 1: 381; Grade 8: 1360)

Ekurhuleni South: 1181 unplaced learners (Grade 1: 569; Grade 8: 612)

Gauteng East: 247 unplaced learners (Grade 1: 85; Grade 8: 162)

 

This results in a total of 3169 unplaced learners in Ekurhuleni, with pressure particularly at Grade 8 level in Ekurhuleni North.

Johannesburg Districts

Only two Johannesburg districts account for a significant number of remaining unplaced learners:

Johannesburg North: 3 Grade 8 learners

Johannesburg East: 1173 (Grade 1: 95; Grade 8: 1078)

Johannesburg South: 352 (Grade 1: 250; Grade 8: 102)

 

Placement pressure remains highest in Johannesburg East, largely driven by demand for secondary school placements.

Tshwane Districts

Tshwane has shown significant progress in placing learners, with only Tshwane having a minuscule amount of learners to place:

Tshwane North: 14 unplaced learners (Grade 1: 1; Grade 8: 13)

Sedibeng and West Rand Districts

Sedibeng and West Rand have also shown tremendous placement progress with comparatively lower numbers as well and are largely stabilised:

Sedibeng East: 70 (Only Grade 8)

        

The Department has prioritised Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg as high-pressure districts, with intensified district-based placement, continued release of placement and transfer offers, and strategic utilisation of available capacity across neighbouring schools.

LATE APPLICATIONS FOR GRADE 1 AND GRADE 8 REMAIN OPEN

The Late Applications period, which commenced on 17 December 2025 and will close on 30 January 2026, has to date recorded a total of 11 183 late applications, comprising:

5 701 Grade 1 learners

5 482 Grade 8 learners

 

All late applications processed during this period result in final placements at the school selected by parents or guardians, subject to available capacity. 

Parents are advised to visit the selected school from 14 January 2026 to submit all required documentation.

 

MEC Chiloane reminds 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.

Applicants may select one school only, and once selected, the learner will be finally placed for the 2026 academic year. 

Placements made during this period cannot be declined, and no objections or appeals will be permitted thereafter.

PROGRESS ON APPEALS AND OBJECTIONS FOR 2026 ONLINE ADMISSIONS

The Department confirms that a grand total of 6736 placement appeals* have been lodged as part of the 2026 Online Admissions process, and only 637 objections await adjudication. The appeals adjudication process is at an advanced stage, with outcomes communicated directly to parents and guardians as finalisation progresses.

 

Parents are reminded that appeal outcomes are final.

 

“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 MEC Chiloane.

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Mangaung Closed-Door Council Meetings

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Mangaung Closed-Door Council Meetings

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR

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DA condemns closed-door council meetings and unlawful extension of Centlec CEO’s contract in Mangaung

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung condemns the Executive Mayor and Speaker for misusing closed council meetings to push questionable decisions, limit public access, and undermine transparency. Despite the municipality being under administration since 2019, governance continues to deteriorate because the necessary legislation is not being followed.

The DA will alert oversight bodies, including the Auditor General, the Provincial Legislature, and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to urgently address these ongoing governance failures.

On Tuesday, 30 December 2025, during a virtual council meeting held behind closed doors, the DA opted not to participate in the vote regarding a three-month extension of the Centlec CEO’s contract. The DA warned that this decision violates legal requirements and exposes the municipality to serious governance, audit, and legal risks.

The five-year term of Centlec’s CEO, Mr Malefane Sekoboto, expired on 31 December 2025. The ANC, EFF, Freedom Front Plus (FF+), and Patriotic Alliance (PA) nevertheless voted to keep the CEO in office until 31 March 2026.

According to the Municipal Systems Act, CEOs of municipal entities must be employed on fixed-term contracts. Once such a contract expires, the position must be declared vacant and an acting CEO legally appointed. Extending an expired contract is unlawful and circumvents the very safeguards designed to prevent the recycling of senior management contracts.

By approving this extension in committee and excluding the public, the ANC-led council has chosen a legally questionable shortcut instead of following a transparent and compliant process. We cannot allow the ANC to approve various items behind closed doors while withholding critical information from the media and residents. The media and the public have the right to know that the current Centlec CEO’s contract has been extended for a further three months.

The DA will hold the ANC to account to ensure transparency in the municipality’s governance. Secret meetings and unlawful decisions erode public trust and further weaken an already fragile administration.

If the DA governed the metro, we would have obeyed the law, kept council meetings open to the public, legally appointed an acting CEO, avoided unnecessary legal exposure, and prioritised residents over political convenience.

We remain committed to opposing the manipulation of council procedures for political gain and will continue to expose the misuse of committee meetings and unlawful appointments. We insist that Mangaung’s leadership govern openly, lawfully, and in the best interests of residents.

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PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA APPOINTS NEW NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

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PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA APPOINTS NEW NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR 

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The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (“Constitution”) and the NPA act, states that the President appoints the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). Due to the importance of the position in the criminal justice system, President Ramaphosa set up an advisory panel for the selection of the NDPP (“panel”) which conducted an open and transparent selection process.

The panel which was led by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Hon. Mmamoloko Kubayi included;

Mr Andrew Christoffel Nissen, Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission

• Ms Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale, Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality

• Ms Tsakani Maluleke, Auditor-General of South Africa

• Prof Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission

• Mr Nkosana Mvundlela, President of the Black Lawyers Association

• Mr Machini Motloung, President of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers, selected six candidates for interviews out of 32 applicants.

The Panel concluded its process and submitted its report to the President on the 12th of December 2025. In its report, the panel advised the President that none of the interviewed candidates were suitable for the role of NDPP. 

Accordingly, President Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of section 179(1) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, read with section 10 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, 1998 (Act 32 of 1998), decided to appoint Advocate Jan Lekgoa Mothibi, with effect from 1 February 2026, as the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). 

Adv. Mothibi who is currently the Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) began his career as a Public Prosecutor in the Johannesburg and Soweto Magistrates and Regional Courts. He also served as a Magistrate in the Johannesburg and Soweto Magistrates Courts. Adv. Mothibi has previously served in various public and private sector roles managing legal, compliance and risk management operations, including at SARS as Head of Corporate Legal Services and Head of Governance.

President Ramaphosa has thanked Advocate Shamila Batohi for her service and contribution to the country’s prosecutions agency and wishes Advocate Batohi well in her future endeavours.

President Ramaphosa extends his gratitude to the members of the panel for their counsel and for carrying their task judiciously. 

With the appointment of Adv. Mothibi as the NDPP leaving a vacancy at the Special Investigating Unit, the President has decided to appoint Mr. Leonard Lekgetho as the Acting Head of the Special Investigating Unit with effect from 1 February 2026 in line with Section 3(1) (b) of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (Act No. 74 of 1996) 

Mr Lekgetho is currently serving as the Chief Operations Officer of the SIU. He has over 22 years of forensic investigations experience, including serving as the Forensic Investigator at the then Directorate of Special Operations, which was known as the Scorpions. 

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Launch of the #UmntanaEskolweni Campaign Ahead of the Reopening of Schools

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Launch of the #UmntanaEskolweni Campaign Ahead of the Reopening of Schools

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR 

LISTEN HERE : @KASIBC_AUDIO

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is pleased to announce the immediate rollout of its annual #UmntanaEskolweni #NgwanaSkolong Campaign as schools prepare to reopen for the 2026 academic year. 

This campaign is a direct intervention to defend the constitutional right of every child to education and to confront the persistent exclusion, neglect, and humiliation of working-class and poor learners within the basic education system. 

As the school year begins on the 15th of January 2026, thousands of learners continue to face barriers to access, including being turned away due to unpaid school fees, lack of uniforms, shortage of stationery, non-issuance of school reports, and failing or unsafe school infrastructure. These realities reflect a state that has normalised inequality in education and allowed poverty to determine a child’s future.

The #UmntanaEskolweni #NgwanaSkolong Campaign is aimed at recovering the dignity, access, and safety of learners, and ensuring that no child is excluded from schooling on the basis of class, income, or social background. Through this campaign, the EFF will actively intervene to ensure that learners are admitted, registered, and allowed to attend school without discrimination or financial coercion. 

The campaign will focus on ensuring that no learner is turned away from school due to unpaid fees, lack of uniform, or stationery; ensuring that all learners receive their school reports, regardless of financial status; and conducting oversight visits to schools to assess readiness for the academic year, including classroom conditions, availability of textbooks, and delivery of learning materials. 

Additionally, the campaign also ensures the presence of safe, working, and flushing sanitation facilities, and the total rejection of pit toilets; while working with teachers to identify learners in need of support with uniforms, particularly shoes, and basic learning necessities, and coordinating interventions to supply these and restore dignity. 

The EFF directs that all its structures and public representatives — from the Central Command Team, Provincial and Sub-Regional Command Teams, Branch Command Teams, Members of Parliament, Provincial Legislatures, and Municipal Councils — must actively participate in the campaign without fail. 

Every EFF leader and public representative is expected to adopt schools, engage directly with school management and educators, and submit written reports on the state of school readiness, incidents of exclusion or discrimination against learners, infrastructure failures, shortages of learning materials, and interventions undertaken to assist learners. 

These reports must be submitted through organisational structures and will form part of the EFF’s broader oversight and accountability programme in the education sector. The EFF emphasises that children must never be humiliated or exposed in the process of assistance. Any intervention must be carried out with discipline, respect, and revolutionary care, as there is no need to parade poverty or desperation. 

The Basic Education Department is one of the critical Ministries which have been sacrificed to the neo-liberal establishment as part of political bargaining by the former liberation movement. It is therefore important to exercise maximum oversight over the sector to ensure that the poorest of the poor are not left behind, while the ANC-DA grand coalition focuses on servicing privileged sectors of schooling. 

The #UmntanaEskolweni #NgwanaSkolong Campaign is the EFF’s practical response to this failure as no child must be left behind or turned away from learning. 

The EFF wishes all learners ad successful and fulfilling educational experience for 2026. 

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