Parents and guardians in Gauteng should prepare for the 2026 online admissions process for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners, which opens on 24 July and closes on 29 August. The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has urged families to ensure all necessary documents are ready ahead of the application window to avoid delays.
To apply, parents must visit the official GDE website once applications go live. Required documents include certified copies of the parent’s South African ID or passport, the child’s birth certificate or relevant permits, and proof of home and work addresses. Grade 8 applicants must also submit their latest Grade 7 report, while Grade 1 applicants need a clinic card or immunisation report.
New Diepsloot School Opens After Delays
In related news, Tanganani Primary School in Diepsloot has officially opened, ending weeks of disruption that kept hundreds of children out of school. Teaching began at the newly built school after construction delays and community protests pushed back its original opening date of 5 May.
Community members had protested to demand local job opportunities linked to the school’s construction. The unrest affected both the building schedule and the appointment of teaching staff. The Department said it responded swiftly to minimise the impact on learners.
“This measure ensured that academic activities continued while the recruitment of permanent educators proceeded according to the Department’s Recruitment and Selection Policy,” said GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona.
The recruitment process ended on 21 May, and the new teachers are expected to start on 2 June.
Urgent Need for More Classrooms in Diepsloot
Tanganani Primary is one of two new schools that have tackled severe overcrowding in Diepsloot. Earlier this month, the Department confirmed that 285 learners in the area had yet to attend school in 2025, 206 of them in primary grades.
Although Tanganani now offers 18 classrooms, construction on the second school continues, and a third school remains in the planning stages. Still, officials have assured parents that the current facility is secure and ready for learning.
“The school premises are secure, with appropriate fencing and lockable gates in place,” Mabona confirmed.
Will the education infrastructure in Gauteng keep up with the growing demand in fast-expanding communities like Diepsloot?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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