Gauteng is facing an education emergency as hundreds of children, particularly those entering Grade 8, remain unplaced weeks before the academic year begins. Civic Root Advocacy has raised the alarm over the worsening school placement crisis, highlighting the distress and uncertainty experienced by parents across the province.
For several weeks, the Gauteng Department of Basic Education’s online admissions system was reportedly down, with little to no communication or guidance provided to parents. As schools declare they are full, families are left in limbo, unsure of where their children will attend school, and struggling to navigate a system that has become increasingly opaque and unresponsive.
Parents attempting to contact the department report unanswered phone calls and a lack of support, leaving many in a state of panic. The situation is particularly challenging for families in working-class and township communities, who face additional barriers to accessing quality education. Renters in urban and suburban areas have been disproportionately affected, often denied placements due to documentation requirements such as utility bills or leases that do not reflect their living circumstances.
Civic Root Advocacy described the human toll as severe, noting that parents have spent sleepless nights refreshing online portals, standing in queues at district offices, and making desperate appeals for assistance. The advocacy group said these are not minor administrative delays, but systemic failures with potentially life-changing consequences for learners and their families.
The organisation has called for urgent reforms, including a complete review of the admissions and feeder-zone policies, the implementation of a pro-poor admissions framework, flexible documentation requirements, transparent reporting on placement backlogs, and an emergency support system for families currently left without options.
Siyabulela Jentile, Managing Director of Civic Root Advocacy, said, “Education is not a privilege of convenience — it is a constitutional right. Parents should not be left in the dark while thousands of children remain unplaced as the academic year approaches.”
The crisis raises urgent questions about planning and accountability within the Gauteng Department of Basic Education, as thousands of learners face uncertainty over their educational future. Civic Root Advocacy said it stands firmly with families fighting for access to a fair and just education system.
