“No public school place is for sale,” warns Maile

Gauteng Education MEC, Lebogang Maile, has warned parents against paying bribes to secure school placements, urging them to report any officials or individuals demanding money in exchange for admission.

“No public school place in Gauteng is for sale. The Gauteng Department of Education does not charge any fee for assisting parents with online admissions and every official support service remains completely free. Parents are encouraged to report all allegations of corruption, bribery or admissions fraud through the appropriate channels. Public education is a constitutional right and must never be compromised by unlawful conduct,” warned Maile.  

Maile made the remarks during a media briefing on Monday ahead of the launch of the 2027 Grade 1 and Grade 8 online admissions process.

The MEC said the department has established 48 decentralised walk-in centres, including all 15 district offices, the Gauteng Department of Education head office and every public school in the province, to assist parents and guardians throughout the application period.

He also dismissed claims that the department gives preferential placement to children of foreign nationals, insisting that school admissions are governed by policy rather than nationality.

“We’re not giving any children of immigrants priority. That’s not true. That’s why we require documentation, and we’ve clearly outlined which documents are needed,” he said.

Maile reassured South African parents and guardians experiencing challenges obtaining the required documents that every application would be considered on its own merits.

The Gauteng Department of Education confirmed that applications for the 2027 academic year will open on 5 August and close on 4 September, urging parents and legal guardians to apply as early as possible through the province’s online admissions system. 

Applicants will be required to create new login credentials, as usernames and passwords from previous admission cycles will no longer be valid.

Maile said the online admissions system remains critical in managing demand across Gauteng’s more than 2,000 public schools, which accommodate more than 2.4 million learners.

He warned that late applications would not be accepted and reminded parents that children currently enrolled in Grade R are not automatically guaranteed placement in Grade 1 at the same school.

The MEC also issued a stern warning against the submission of fraudulent documents, saying anyone found guilty of doing so would face criminal prosecution.

#2027OnlineAdmissionsGP | MEC @LebogangMaile1 has officially announced that applications for the 2027 Online Admissions for Grade 1 and Grade 8 in Gauteng will officially open on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, at 08h00, and close on Friday, 4 September 2026, at 00h00 (midnight). pic.twitter.com/AAYwHNnZu4

— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) July 27, 2026