By Selloane Ntshonyane
- Parents say the system is forcing their children into unsafe schools far from home that require two taxis.
- The department has extended call centre hours until 13 December to help place learners before schools open.
“We got a transfer offer to a school I have never even heard of.”
This is the frustration facing Lindiwe Mabizela. She says her daughter would need to take two taxis just to get to class.
When she declined the offer, the system sent her back to the start of the queue.
She is not alone. Parents across Gauteng are furious as the Department of Education races to place 40,000 learners for the 2026 school year.
Muntu Maseko says the department is forcing children into schools they never chose.
“They tell us the schools we applied for are full,” Maseko says.
He asks why the government is talking about late applications when those who applied on time are still stuck at home.
Some parents are being offered schools up to 50km away. They say these areas are unsafe or have no transport.
But the department says it has a job to do.
They are working with a R63.4-billion budget to ensure every child has a place. To speed things up, they have kept their contact centre open until 13 December.
There is a catch.
If parents do not respond to an offer within seven days, the system places the child automatically. The department says this is necessary to avoid delays when schools open.
They are also asking parents to return old textbooks so other learners can use them next year.
Pictured above: Learners at school.
Image source: Department of Education
