There are an estimated 400 000-plus pupils requiring placement within four weeks before the end of the 2026 school year. Many parents are worried about the late announcement of school applications by the Gauteng department of education and fear another year of delays and unplaced pupils. On Monday, Gauteng education MEC Lebogang Maile announced applications for the 2027 academic year will open at 8am on 1 August and close at midnight on 4 September. AfriForum head of education projects Carien Bloem said the delayed opening again points to a placement disaster. “The online registration platform will again open late this year, and with an estimated 400 000-plus pupils requiring placement within four weeks before the end of the 2026 school year – combined with the system’s poor track record – parents need to prepare for a challenging registration process,” she said.