Gauteng’s 2026 school admissions opened to a rush of activity, with Education MEC Matome Chiloane confirming that over 213,000 Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications had been processed on opening day.
When Gauteng’s online school admissions opened at 8am on Thursday, parents were ready. In the first hour alone, 78,645 applications flooded the system—32,584 for Grade 1 and 46,061 for Grade 8. By 1pm, the numbers had more than doubled, hitting 213,654 confirmed applications, which included 93,042 Grade 1 and 120,612 Grade 8 submissions.
Parents and guardians can apply by visiting gdeadmissions.gov.za. The process has five simple steps:
1. Register your details as the parent or guardian.
2. Add your home address details.
3. Enter the learner’s details.
4. Choose up to five schools to apply to.
5. Upload or submit the needed documents.
You must start fresh with new login details, as old ones from past years will not work. Late applications after 29 August will have fewer school choices.
Required documents must be uploaded on the system or submitted directly to the schools applied to, within seven school days of applying.
Documents You Need to Prepare
To make your application complete, gather certified copies of these papers:
• ID for South African parents: Your ID or passport, and the child’s birth certificate or passport.
• For non-citizens: Refugee permit, asylum seeker permit, permanent residence permit, or study permit.
• Proof of home address: This is key. For homeowners, a municipal bill not older than three months in your name with the full address. For renters, the landlord’s bill, lease agreement, and a statement in your name, all recent.
Proof of work address.
• For Grade 8: The latest Grade 7 report.
• For Grade 1: Clinic card or immunisation report.
Upload them as PDF files, no bigger than 10MB, or take them to the school. The system will send an SMS to confirm. Do not use fake papers, as schools may check your address in person, and it could mean no placement.
