Gauteng MEC pushes back on claims foreign learners are favoured

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has rejected claims that foreign nationals are placed ahead of South African learners in public schools, and has issued a stern warning that any school or official breaching admissions policies will face consequence management.

Chiloane described the allegations as misleading and unfounded, saying the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) does not prioritise foreign nationals during learner placements.

“We wish to reiterate that the department does not have a directive that instructs schools or officials to prioritise foreign nationals during learner placements,” Chiloane said.

“On the contrary, South African learners are prioritised in line with applicable legislation, as well as the department’s admissions and placement processes.”

He said applications for inner grades, Grades 2 to 7 and Grades 9 to 11, are managed directly at school level and are not processed through the GDE Online Admissions system, which applies only to Grade 1 and Grade 8.

“Some Gauteng schools are currently facing challenges in accommodating inner-grade applicants. We therefore urge schools to work collaboratively with district offices to manage these placements,” he said.

According to Chiloane, this approach will ensure that learners are placed efficiently.

“No school is permitted to prioritise foreign national learners ahead of South African learners. Any school or official found to be contravening admissions policies will be subjected to consequence management,” he said.

“We will not tolerate claims that suggest foreign nationals are prioritised at the expense of South African learners.”

Chiloane said the department continues to make steady progress in the 2026 online admissions process for Grade 1 and Grade 8.

He said 2,763 learners across the province remain unplaced, including 735 Grade 1 learners and 2,028 Grade 8 learners.

“The department wishes to reassure parents that all learners who qualify for placement will be accommodated in public schools. The main challenge remains a lack of capacity, particularly in high-pressure areas such as Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg,” he said.

As a result, not all learners can be placed at their preferred schools immediately, he added.

“Despite this, the department is working diligently to identify available spaces and ensure that every learner is placed as fairly and efficiently as possible.”

Chiloane said the online admissions system remains intact and that applications are being processed in an orderly and transparent manner.

“Our teams continue to engage schools daily to identify available spaces and finalise outstanding placements,” he said.

He said the online system opened for late Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications on December 17, 2025, allowing parents who missed the main application period to apply.

Chiloane said to date, the system has processed and placed 27,140 late applications, 14,273 for Grade 1 and 12,867 for Grade 8.

“All late applications processed during this period result in immediate and final placements at schools with available capacity,” Chiloane said.

He said the 2026 online admissions system will remain open for late applications until January 30, 2026. 

However, only schools with available space are displayed on the system.

Chiloane said late applicants may select only one school, and once selected, the learner is placed for the 2026 academic year.

“We remain committed to ensuring that every child who qualifies for placement is accommodated in a public school in Gauteng,” Chiloane said.

“Our admissions processes are clear, lawful and fair. The department does not have, and has never had, a policy that prioritises foreign nationals over South African children.”

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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