The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has placed more than 26,000 learners since the start of the 2026 school year, as officials race to finalise admissions following an unprecedented surge in extremely late applications.
According to the department, 26,312 Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners were placed across the province from the beginning of January 2026, despite schools only reopening on January 14. This comes on top of tens of thousands of learners placed during the 2025 admissions cycle.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the department had already placed 96% of all learners who applied last year, including late applications received by December 10, before being confronted with an unexpected influx of new applications in early January.
“Since the beginning of January 2026, the WCED received 25,065 new extremely late applications for Grades R, 1 and 8,” Hammond said.
The pressure has been particularly acute in Grade R, which alone accounted for 13,905 extremely late applications. As of 6 February, placement was still in progress for 1,148 Grade R learners.
In Grade 8, the department has placed 99.6% of learners for whom applications were received, with 396 placements still being finalised. Grade 1 placements are also nearing completion, with only 326 learners outstanding, representing a placement rate of over 99%.
Hammond praised officials for their efforts under intense time constraints, noting that “more than 26,000 placements have been made within four weeks,” calling it “a remarkable accomplishment by our team”.
She reiterated that the 10th school day remains a critical milestone in the admissions process, allowing schools to confirm attendance through physical headcounts, deregister learners who have not arrived, and identify available spaces for rapid placement.
“While it is always preferable for all learners to be in school on the first day, the reality is that late applications require time,” Hammond said.
“Officials must consult with School Governing Bodies, negotiate available spaces, and finalise administrative processes that would normally take months, now condensed into just a few days.”
The department said it continues to receive extremely late applications daily, which are being processed as a matter of urgency.
Hammond appealed for patience as officials complete the final phase of placements.
“While we celebrate the placement of tens of thousands of learners in an exceptionally short period, we remain mindful that new extremely late applications continue to arrive daily,” she said.
“The WCED remains committed to ensuring that every learner in the Western Cape has access to a place in school as quickly as possible.”
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Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za