Beware of ‘Godfrey’: Gauteng school placement scam exposed
Urgent warning for Gauteng parents: Beware of 'Godfrey' soliciting bribes for school placements!
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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has warned parents about an individual known as ‘Godfrey’, who is allegedly offering school placements for the 2026 academic year in exchange for bribes.
The department confirmed that no person by that name is employed by the GDE in Tshwane or any of its district offices, and that all school placements are handled exclusively through the official GDE Online Admissions System.
"Parents must understand that no individual can fast-track the placement process. Those who pay these fraudsters are paying for nothing," the department spokesperson, Steve Mabona said.
The 2026 Online Admissions Placement Period began on October 16, with placement offers sent to parents via SMS and the online system. The department reassured the public that all applications are being processed and that every applicant with a complete application will receive an offer.
Parents who have received placement notifications are encouraged to accept them, which are considered final, while those still awaiting offers are urged to be patient.
Placement decisions are based on a hierarchy of criteria, applied in order of priority: home address within the school's feeder zone, siblings or previous school, work address within the feeder zone, home address within 30 km, and home address beyond 30 km.
Availability is also subject to school capacity, with transfer offers made only when original school choices are full.
Parents dissatisfied with placement outcomes may lodge an objection online within seven days of receiving an offer, with outcomes communicated within 14 days. Appeals may be lodged within seven days of the objection decision and are finalised within 14–21 days.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane emphasised the department's efforts to ensure fairness.
"The Department continues to work tirelessly to place all learners for the 2026 academic year. Parents and guardians are once again reminded to refrain from engaging with any individual who claims to offer placement assistance in exchange for money," he said.
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